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When should you start getting ready for spring allergies? The answer may be sooner than you think. An allergist goes over timing and steps you can take to prepare.
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CLEVELAND - Spring may still be a ways off, but now is the time to start preparing if you suffer from seasonal allergies.
“When it comes to seasonal allergies, I ask patients to focus on three things: avoidance techniques, medications as well as treatments like allergy shots,” explained Sandra Hong, MD, an allergist for Cleveland Clinic.
If your symptoms usually flare up in the spring, Dr. Hong recommends starting any nasal steroid sprays before symptoms begin.
For itching or sneezing during the season, you can take oral antihistamines as needed.
Along with medications, keeping the windows shut, changing your clothes after going outside and showering before bed can all help reduce symptoms.
Dr. Hong also suggests keeping pets out of the bedroom, since their fur can carry outdoor allergens inside.
If you’re still struggling with symptoms after all this, Dr. Hong said it may be time to see an allergist.
“Allergists can identify what’s triggering a patient’s symptoms and create a personalized treatment plan,” Dr. Hong said. “If that isn’t enough, there are other therapies, such as allergy shots or allergy tablets that work with the immune system.”
As the weather warms up, Dr. Hong added that allergy symptoms are often worse on dry, windy days when pollen levels are higher.
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