Addressing Allergies Early May Help Lessen Challenges During the Season

Getting outdoors and enjoying the warmer weather conditions may require a bit of extra planning for those managing seasonal allergies. ThedaCare medical experts have advice on how to do so more effectively this spring.

“If not managed properly, allergies may cause challenges for people trying to enjoy the seasonal change,” said Katie Harris, a nurse practitioner with ThedaCare Physicians-Darboy. “Finding effective treatments and lifestyle changes can help reduce allergy symptoms.”

Allergens such as spores, grass and tree pollen in the air and molds may trigger symptoms. These include itchy and watery eyes, stuffy and runny nose, congestion and post-nasal drip, throat scratchiness or tickle and coughing.

“These symptoms occur when your immune system recognizes allergens as intruders,” Harris said. “Your immune system will release chemicals that are meant to fight off the supposed pathogen but it instead results in triggering your allergic symptoms.”

Allergies or Virus?

Making matters more complicated, allergies and common cold viruses share many symptoms.

“Sometimes it’s hard to tell whether you’ve got a virus or you’re experiencing seasonal allergies or both,” Harris said. “Because colds and allergies call for different treatments, it’s important to know which you’re dealing with.”

Certain signs might signal a cold, not allergies or vice versa. Sore throat and cough are more common in colds than allergies. Allergies also do not typically cause a fever, while colds often do. People with allergies might experience puffy eyelids or dark circles beneath their eyes.

To find the exact cause of a person’s symptoms, a health care provider may recommend a skin or blood test to determine which allergens are impacting them, Harris explained.

“It’s important to treat seasonal allergies to help relieve bothersome symptoms, and because they can worsen other conditions such as asthma,” she said.

Common treatments include:

• Oral antihistamines may help relieve sneezing, itching, a stuffy or runny nose and watery eyes. Name brands include Zyrtec, Allegra, Claritin and Alavert.
• Corticosteroid nasal sprays may help improve nasal symptoms. Examples include Flonase, Rhinocort and Nasacort.
• Oral decongestants such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) may provide temporary relief from nasal stuffiness.
• Saline sprays offer a non-medicated way to help relieve nasal congestion. This method directly flushes out mucus and allergens from the nose.

For more tenacious allergies, a health care provider may recommend allergen immunotherapy through injections or prescription tablets that dissolve under the tongue.

“Talk to your doctor because they can offer ways to help you manage your symptoms if over-the-counter medications aren’t sufficient,” Harris said. “Ideally, that conversation happens before allergy season begins. Addressing allergies early may help head off the challenges they can bring.”

Preventing Problems

While treatment goes a long way in alleviating symptoms so does prevention.

“Keep track of allergens in the air prior to heading outdoors,” Harris said. “When levels of pollen and mold spores rise, you may want to alter your plans.”

Most weather apps have an allergen tracker feature. People also can use the allergen report available through the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

Other tips for avoiding allergens include:

• Changing clothes when going back indoors.
• Wearing a mask for activities such as yard work that might kick up grass pollen or spores. Alternatively, hire or recruit someone else to do the job.
• Taking a shower and washing one’s hair in the evening.
• Using dust covers on pillows and washing them along with your pillowcases to reduce allergic reactions from dust mites.
• Running air conditioning and keeping windows and doors closed to keep pollen out.
• Using filters or air purifiers to capture allergens that find their way inside.

“We want people to enjoy the seasons to the fullest,” Harris said. “Seek medical care if allergies are impacting your quality of life.”

The ThedaCare Primary Care team can help with seasonal allergies. Connect to care through an in-person or virtual visit.

About ThedaCare

For more than 115 years, ThedaCare® has been improving the health and well-being of the communities it serves in northeast and central Wisconsin. The organization delivers care to more than 650,000 residents in 17 counties, and employs approximately 7,000 providers and team members at 180 points of care, including 10 hospitals. As an organization committed to being a leader in Population Health, team members are dedicated to empowering people to live their unique, best lives. ThedaCare is a not-for-profit health system with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs, as well as primary care. ThedaCare also partners with communities to understand needs, find solutions together, and encourage health awareness and action. ThedaCare is part of Froedtert ThedaCare, Wisconsin’s most comprehensive health care system.