From Avoidance To Allergy Shots: The Top Allergy Treatment Options For Seasonal Triggers

14 March 2023
 Categories: , Blog

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Which allergy treatment is the right choice for you? According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), nearly 67 million adults had a seasonal allergy diagnosis in 2021. If ragweed, pollen, trees, and grass make you sneeze, wheeze, and more, take a look at what you need to know about the best ways to treat seasonal allergies. 

Reduce Exposure To the Allergen

Avoidance is one of the easiest ways to reduce the severity of seasonal allergies. But this strategy isn't always practical or possible. If you prefer to start with a step toward prevention, you will need to know your triggers first. Don't assume that the flowers blooming outside of your home or the new spring grass is the cause of your stuffy nose and itchy eyes. Instead of just making an educated guess, visit your primary care physician or an allergist.

The doctor will take a full health history and ask you for information about your current symptoms, past symptoms, and the timing of your symptoms. They may also want to know more about your lifestyle. This includes whether you or someone in your household smokes, if you're exposed to chemicals/pollutants at work or anywhere else, if you have pets (and what types of pets), how much time you spend outdoors, and more information about outdoor activities (such as gardening or raking leaves regularly). 

After discussing your health history, symptoms, and lifestyle, the doctor will examine you and may order a skin prick test or other blood work to confirm or rule out triggers. After you know the culprits behind your allergies you can try to avoid the triggers. This may mean reducing the time you spend outside or using a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter system inside of your home.

Use An Oral Medication

Oral allergy medications include over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription options. Popular OTC and prescription products include oral antihistamines, corticosteroid nasal sprays, and oral decongestants. Never take an OTC medication before you consult with a doctor. Your doctor can recommend the medication that works best for your specific symptoms and help you to decide which options to avoid. 

Try Allergy Shots

If you don't want to take a pill daily or the oral and nasal spray medications you've tried don't keep your seasonal symptoms under control, allergy shots may help to reduce or eliminate sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes, and more. Allergy injections are an immunotherapy type of treatment that increases your tolerance to the trigger over time. Unlike pills, you won't need a daily shot. Instead, you will create a buildup (the time when you build up a tolerance to the allergen) schedule and a maintenance plan with your allergist.

To learn more about allergy treatment options available for you, contact a healthcare clinic in your area.