Allergy season is in full force here in Atlanta! I’m sure you have noticed all the pollen on the streets, cars, houses, and every other outdoor surface. We know seasonal allergies can lead to a lot of headaches, congestion, breathing issues, and other unfortunate symptoms for many people. That’s why the healthcare providers here at Family Practice Center wanted to offer some spring seasonal allergy tips for our readers.
If you’re experiencing any sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes or any other symptoms of spring seasonal allergies, we recommend trying to the following:
- Try using a neti pot or other type of sinus rinse to help flush out your system.
- Over-the-counter antihistamines like Claritin (Loratadine), Allegra (Fexofenadine), or Zyrtec (Cetirizine) may be able to relieve many of the most common allergy symptoms.
- For people with more severe nasal congestion, using a nasal steroid spray like Flonase (Fluticasone) or Nasonex (Mometasone) may be able to clear the nasal passage and make breathing easier.
- For those who experience itching or burning eyes, lubricating eye drops like Systan or antihistamine drops like Pataday can also be helpful. We recommend avoiding drops that are “anti-redness,” as they may cause damage to the cells of the eye with regular use.
In many cases, combining more than one of these remedies will be needed to get you relief. However, it’s important to consult with your doctor before starting any new medications to make sure you are healthy enough to take them. If these steps aren’t enough, talk to your primary care doctor about more aggressive options including prescription medications or even allergy immunotherapy to make you less sensitive to common seasonal allergens.
We understand that it can sometimes be difficult to tell the difference between spring allergies and certain infections or illnesses. These tips may be able to help patients understand the difference:
- Generally, people do not feel ill when they are suffering from allergies. They tend to be more annoyed and uncomfortable than sick.
- Fevers, body aches, and chills are good predictors of infection or a more serious illness.
- If you’ve recently been exposed to someone who was sick with an infection, including COVID-19, then your risk for being infected yourself is certainly higher.
- If your symptoms are not improving or worsening despite effective over-the-counter allergy treatment, then it’s likely worth checking in with your healthcare provider.
Following these tips can be an excellent help for anyone trying to manage their symptoms and feel better this spring. For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our healthcare providers, please contact Family Practice Center today. You can follow us on Facebook for additional health tips, news, and more