There are many allergy triggers that appear in the spring, the biggest culprit being pollen. Trees, grasses and weeds release pollen into the air in order to fertilize other plants. When a person is allergic to something in the environment, their body reacts by releasing histamine. This extra histamine causes the common symptoms of seasonal allergies, which are:
- sneezing
- runny or stuffy noses
- itchy and/or watering eyes
There are some strategies that can help to limit allergy symptoms. These include:
- staying indoors (especially when the pollen counts are high)
- using air conditioning instead of opening the windows
- do not dry clothing outside
- getting someone else to cut the grass (that’s a bonus!)
Did you know that pollen counts tend to be the highest in the morning and on sunny, windy days?
Antihistamines are medications that block histamine receptors to give people relief from their allergy symptoms. Some examples are: loratadine (Claritin), desloratadine (Aerius), cetirizine (Reactine), fexofenadine (Allegra)
They:
- decrease nasal itching
- sneezing
- runny nose
- itchy and watery eyes
- have a modest benefit for relieving nasal congestion
Choosing an antihistamine can be tricky because there are a number of products available and antihistamines are often included in many cough and cold products. Ask the pharmacist to ensure that you do not accidentally take duplicate drugs.
In addition to oral antihistamines, there are eye drops, nasal sprays and inhalers that can be used to treat allergy symptoms.
Our pharmacists are here to help you make a safe choice.