Latest news with #allergist
WebMD
22-05-2025
- Health
- WebMD
This Is Why Your Allergy Meds Aren't Helping
May 22, 2025 – One in four Americans face an annual showdown with the air they breathe. Pills and sprays are their traditional weapons against seasonal allergies. But is this battle plan all wrong? That's a crucial question right now as the air warms and the changing climate supercharges pollen production. Doctors say too many people still use their allergy medications incorrectly – they wait until symptoms appear (too late!) or they rely too much on nose sprays and decongestant pills. Here's a guide to help you breathe easier this year. Why Is Your Body Reacting Like This? A seasonal allergy is just an overreaction to pollen. Call it hay fever or allergic rhinitis – it's your body treating as dangerous threats these basically harmless reproductive particles of plants, distributed by the wind. It's literally in the air you breathe, so it's hard to escape. Tree pollen is worst in the spring, grass pollen in the summer, and weed pollen in the fall. Indoor allergens like mold spores, pet dander, or dust mites can trigger hay fever as well. Your body releases histamine, molecules that trigger inflammation as a defense. This widens blood vessels and produces mucus to trap invaders. Hence: a runny nose, sneezing, itching, watery eyes, coughing, a sore throat, clogged ears, even tiredness and headaches. So you, understandably, try to get rid of this congestion. But Levi Keller, MD, an allergist and immunologist at UCHealth, says about a quarter of his patients misuse decongestants. Surveys have shown that many people still rely on decongestant pills, though doctors recommend nasal steroids and antihistamines as first treatment options. Follow these guidelines instead: 1. Don't Wait for Symptoms Many people wait for that first sniffle or throat itch before using meds, which makes them less effective, according to a survey published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. Instead, beat allergies to the punch. "Start prior to allergy season and continue through the season to prevent the development of symptoms, rather than treating symptoms reflexively," Keller said. Starting antihistamines early gives the medication time to block histamine receptors before allergens hit. This helps your body stay ahead of flare-ups instead of working extra hard to relieve symptoms after they strike. Aim to start one to two weeks before your first pollen exposure. For most people, that means setting the clock around February-April for tree pollen, April to early June for grass pollen, and from August onward for weed pollen. 2. Make Sure You Have the Right Meds There's an allergy treatment for every symptom, from a clogged nose to watery eyes. But that doesn't mean you should grab one of everything from the allergy aisle. Research shows that a more targeted approach, tailoring treatment to specific symptoms, works better. For best results, use: Decongestants for a stuffy nose Antihistamines for sneezing and itching Steroid nasal sprays to relieve inflammation in the nasal passages Some treatments can work better together. "For moderate to severe symptoms, combining non-sedating antihistamines with nasal corticosteroids is effective," said Brian Greenberg, MD, an allergist and immunologist at Pediatric Group of Southern California. He also recommends combining nasal steroid sprays and nasal antihistamines to relieve symptoms. But Greenberg added that the specific symptoms you get and how hard they hit can depend on genetic, environmental, and immune factors. 3. Spray the Right Way Do you tilt your head back when using nasal spray? Many do – but the correct move is to lean slightly forward when spraying. This helps the medication remain in the nose to work its magic, instead of dripping down the throat. That fast relief is great, right? But don't go overboard. Decongestant sprays like oxymetazoline (Afrin) shouldn't be used for more than three days in a row – any longer and you risk rebound congestion that makes your symptoms worse. 4. Be Consistent It's tempting to stop allergy meds when you start feeling better. But that can let inflammation creep back in. Be sure to use daily meds like antihistamines or nasal sprays as recommended by your doctor, including taking them for the time advised. That said, don't go overboard. "Increasing antihistamines like cetirizine, fexofenadine, or loratadine beyond once-daily dosing likely won't make much of a difference," said Keller. Maybe try this: Take daily antihistamines like loratadine or cetirizine at night, especially if they make you drowsy, Greenberg suggests. Some people prefer nighttime dosing to stay ahead of morning symptoms – though he notes there's little solid evidence that it works better than daytime use. And if you're worried about side effects, don't be – Greenberg said that antihistamines are generally well tolerated with few serious concerns. 5. Don't Put Those in There! Keep your allergy meds in a dry place, like your bedroom. Bathroom humidity can trigger chemical reactions in pills that weaken the active ingredients. For liquid medications, such as antihistamine syrups, avoid storing them in the fridge unless the label says otherwise. Cold air can change their structure, causing ingredients to crystallize or separate, which may make them less effective or make dosing less accurate. 6. Try These Prevention Tricks The best way to manage allergies is to stay two steps ahead of potential triggers. "Proactive management is key," Greenberg said. "Monitoring local pollen counts … using HEPA air purifiers, installing allergy-proof mattress and pillow encasements can help reduce exposure." If you're doing yardwork, consider wearing a mask to limit pollen exposure, said Keller. Showering and changing clothes afterward can limit exposure to lingering pollen, he said. Pets can bring allergens in too, he said. Before letting them back indoors, wipe down their coat with a damp towel to reduce the pollen they may have picked up outside. 7. Go to an Allergist Over-the-counter meds can be a big help when allergies hit. But if you're battling problems – sinus infections, constant congestion, or hay fever – that last for months, it's worth checking in with an allergist. These experts do more than treat symptoms – they dig deep to figure out what's causing them. Through testing, allergists can pinpoint triggers and build a customized plan for you, including strategies for avoiding those triggers and keeping flare-ups in check.
CTV News
21-05-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Why allergy season may feel longer in Windsor and how to cope
The rain might bring some temporary relief — but for many in Windsor, pollen season arrived early and isn't letting up. Those with seasonal allergies report symptoms hitting harder this spring. Dr. Anne Ellis, an allergist and clinical researcher at Queen's University, says this is on trend. 'We're about the same as last year, which was also a good year if you're into lots of pollen — a bad year if you're the allergy sufferers,' she said. Ellis said recent years have seen sharper seasonal shifts, contributing to what feels like more intense reactions. 'We don't really have a slow, gradual buildup of spring into warmer spring into summer,' she explained. 'We go from cold to super warm, and that triggers the trees to really feel like 'oh, I'm behind, I've got to get caught up.'' That rush can hit allergy sufferers hard, with symptoms ranging from sinus pressure and congestion to itchy eyes and sneezing — often mistaken for a lingering cold. Your best bet? Ellis said talk to a pharmacist about non-drowsy medications. And if you're really suffering, talk to your doctor about getting referred to an allergist. 'We have very effective ways to actually change your underlying immune system so that you're not always coming back year after year with your same seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms,' Ellis said. She added there's a new tablet you can get that's meant to replace weekly allergy shots, too. 'It's an immunotherapy, so it's a tablet that dissolves under your tongue.' Unfortunately for those in Windsor-Essex, geography plays a key role in how long people are exposed to allergens. 'You folks in Windsor probably have had pollen for a lot longer than we have in Kingston, being more southern and warmer temperatures,' Ellis told CTV News. And while tree pollen is peaking now, grass pollen is on its way in just a few weeks. 'People who are allergic to both will start to have that double whammy of two allergens at the same time,' she said. Tree pollen, Ellis said, is likely to let up over the next few weeks – typically by the end of June.
CNET
12-05-2025
- Health
- CNET
Why Are My Allergies Bad This Year? An Allergist Shares Relief Tips
Thanks to pollen and other tiny particles that cause inflammation, seasonal allergies have arrived -- and there's reason to believe they're getting worse. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 60 million people in the US may have symptoms of allergic rhinitis (also called seasonal allergies or hay fever) each year. Plants spread pollen in the air as part of their reproductive cycle, often triggering seasonal allergies. These symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose and congestion, are caused by the body's overreaction to allergens it perceives as a threat. To loosen symptoms, Dr. Purvi Parikh, an allergist at NYU Langone Health, recommends avoiding the outdoors early in the morning, as well as opening your windows at that time. She also suggests changing clothes and showering when you get home. You can minimize other indoor allergens by getting dust mite covers, a HEPA air purifier, vacuuming and dusting frequently, and washing bedding frequently. Read more: Allergy Hacks for Pollen Season and Apps to Stay Ahead of the Game Don't Settle for Sneezes. Here's How to Combat Your Seasonal Allergies Don't Settle for Sneezes. Here's How to Combat Your Seasonal Allergies Click to unmute Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Skip Backward Skip Forward Next playlist item Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 8:07 Loaded : 1.22% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 8:07 Share Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Here's How to Combat Your Seasonal Allergies How to treat seasonal allergies If you're reaching for an over-the-counter medication, make sure it's the right one by asking your pharmacist or doctor for their recommendation on an antihistamine or over-the-counter medication. A stuffy nose caused by allergies has a different cause than one caused by a cold, so you need to target your symptoms and their cause specifically. If you have severe allergies, your doctor may prescribe a nasal steroid spray or allergy shots to dampen symptoms. It's always a good idea to try your best to avoid your allergy triggers, but that doesn't mean you have to hole up inside with a box of tissues. Parikh shares a few ways to get ahead of allergy season: Take OTC antihistamines like Allegra, steroid nasal sprays, antihistamine nasal sprays and eyedrops. If you're prone to asthma, start your preventative inhalers as soon as possible. Parikh told CNET that "It's much easier to control symptoms proactively, and asthma can be dangerous if uncontrolled. If you don't know what to take, see a board-certified allergist to help you." When you come home from outside, change your clothes and take a shower to wash pollen off and decrease your exposure. Avoid being outside in the early morning, when pollen counts are highest, and keep windows closed early morning for the same reason. Other ways to lessen allergy symptoms: Use an air purifier if you're sensitive to indoor allergens. Wear a dust mask while doing yard work. Check your local weather network for pollen forecasts. 4 ways to tell you have seasonal allergies The type of pollen and how much there is largely depends on where you live. In addition to affecting the nose, pollen can cause inflammation in other areas. It's estimated that seven out of 10 people who experience nasal allergy symptoms also experience itchy, red or watery eyes. Here's how to know if your symptoms are allergy-related or not and ways to find relief. Common allergy symptoms you may experience If you think of sneezing and watery eyes when you think of seasonal allergies, you'd be on the right track. There's a good chance you have seasonal allergies if you experience any of the following common symptoms: Frequent sneezing Watery or itchy eyes Runny nose Congestion in your nose, ears or chest Postnasal drip Itchy throat Puffy eyelids Most seasonal allergies are caused by pollen from trees, grasses and weeds. If you have winter allergies, you're probably allergic to an indoor allergen like dust allergy symptoms you may experience The symptoms above are extremely common, but your allergies might show up differently. These less common symptoms may also indicate seasonal allergies: Wheezing Coughing Sudden lack of exercise endurance Mild headache Read more: 5 Ways an Air Purifier Will Boost Your Health Symptoms you shouldn't experience Remember, some of the symptoms in the first two sections may also be symptoms of a cold or the flu, so if you feel under the weather, you should visit your doctor or get tested for COVID-19. Parikh says that some symptoms are identical, like nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, dry cough and wheezing. If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, there's a good chance you have a cold, COVID-19 or another virus: Fatigue Aches and pains throughout your body Weakness Severe headache Sore throat (different from the itchiness caused by allergies) If you know you're allergic to pollen, you can try an app like Zyrtec AllergyCast to check the pollen counts and see if it's a good idea (or not) to go outside. Zyrtec/Screenshot by Amanda Capritto/CNET Symptoms that show up seasonally If you have seasonal allergies, your symptoms likely arise and go away around the same time each year. For most people, seasonal allergy symptoms begin in the spring and end in the fall. You may experience allergic rhinitis in any of the four seasons, depending on your allergy triggers. Parikh shared that these plants commonly cause seasonal allergies: Spring: Grasses, such as ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, Timothy grass and Bermuda grass, and tree pollen, particularly from oak, elm, birch, cedar, willow, poplar, horse chestnut and alder trees. Summer: Weed pollens like mugwort and pigweed. Fall: Pollen from weeds is the main concern in the fall months. Many people are allergic to the pollen in ragweed, tumbleweed, pigweed, sagebrush, Russian thistle and other plants. Winter: Most people find their allergies dormant during the winter months because most plants don't pollinate during winter. If you still get watery eyes and a runny nose during cold weather, you might be allergic to indoor allergens, such as dust mites, mold or animal dander.
