Tips for Allergy Relief
If you are experiencing a runny nose, sneezing and watery eyes, you may be among the millions of people suffering from allergies. Don’t let allergies prevent you from participating in the activities you enjoy. Joel Gallagher, MD, with Allergy and Asthma Center of North Carolina, a member of Cone Health Medical Group, shares tips for reducing your risks and managing the symptoms.
Allergy Triggers
Common triggers for allergies are divided into seasonal and perennial allergens.
Seasonal
One of the most common seasonal allergens is pollen. Different kinds of pollens tend to reach their peak at different times of the year.
- Tree Pollen: March through April
- Grass and Weed Pollen: May through July
- Ragweed: August through the first frost
Perennial
Perennial allergens affect people year-round. They can include:
- Pet dander.
- Molds. Molds can be found inside and outside our homes. They're often present during the wetter parts of the year.
- Dust mites. These tiny bugs live where we tend to sleep — like in our bed and our pillows — and they can live in our carpets.
Avoiding Allergens
Once you figure out what you are allergic to, there are many ways you can avoid your exposure to those allergens. For example, during the pollen seasons:
- Keep your windows closed.
- Use your air conditioning.
- Change your clothes when you go inside. Remove your shoes as well.
- Wash your pets off with a damp rag when they go inside your home.
- Use a dust mask when doing yard work.
Allergy Treatments
There are many treatments available to help relieve bothersome allergy symptoms.
Saline Nasal Rinsing
Saline nasal rinsing is a great, non-medicated option for treating your allergy symptoms. The salt water thins out your mucus and helps is drain from your sinuses and your nose. It also rinses out the pollens and allergens in your nose, which stops your allergic reaction.
Medications for Allergy Relief
We live in an age when there are a lot of great over-the-counter medications for allergies. A few options include:
- Diphenhydramine. This medication can cause some side effects, like sleepiness.
- Cetirizine and fexofenadine. This medications do not cause sleepiness.
- Fluticasone and mometasone. These medicated nasal sprays can block the allergic response in your nose.
When to Seek Further Help
If you've tried over-the-counter medications and you're still experiencing symptoms, if you don't like taking a medication every day, or if you want to figure out what is causing your symptoms, seek an allergist's help.
Need Care Now for Allergies?
Make an appointment at conehealth.com/virtualcare.
