Managing Seasonal Allergies

As many people in the Atlanta area already know, allergy season in Georgia often starts early in the year and persists into fall. For those with severe allergies, hay fever symptoms can provide much discomfort and even affect health and happiness. Fortunately there are many ways to manage allergic rhinitis, and half the battle is recognizing what works for you. Here are some of the main ways allergists treat seasonal allergies.

Best Ways to Manage Seasonal Allergies

Allergy symptoms vary depending on the person, the time of year, as well as the level of allergen exposure. While allergists can offer personalized management approaches, the following tips are quite useful for most patients.

Understand Your Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

First, pay attention to your symptoms and notice the potential triggers. If you experience a runny nose, watery eyes, an itchy throat, cough or postnasal drip, make a note of these symptoms (along with their potential triggers like grass pollen, mold, dust and so on). A greater understanding of allergy symptoms will help your allergist diagnose the issue, and also help you prevent unnecessary exposure to allergens.

Stay Consistent With Medication

We have previously outlined some daily habits for fast allergic rhinitis relief. One key factor is the use of specific medications to alleviate symptoms. Over-the-counter medicines like antihistamines offer relief for many people with mild to moderate hay fever. Always stick to the recommended dosages and start the meds when symptoms first appear – there’s no need to suffer unnecessarily. For instance, if it’s the height of pollen season, taking antihistamines only sporadically will not offer the relief you need.

Tackle Severe Allergies With Immunotherapy

For both adults and children, severe allergy symptoms can have a detrimental impact on overall quality of life. One proven approach to managing severe allergies is immunotherapy. This type of desensitization process helps the immune system build a tolerance to pollen and other allergens via gradual exposure. In the case of seasonal allergies, allergy shots are administered over a period of months, and these can dramatically improve responses to allergens.

Use Seasonal Allergy Self-Care Methods

Self-care approaches to seasonal allergies can be very helpful. While anyone with severe allergies may not see significant changes, when symptoms appear simple home remedies can offer comfort. Examples of self-care allergy management include using nasal sprays, a nasal wash, steam therapy, keeping your windows closed when pollen counts are high and so on.

Get Professional Allergy Testing

Finally, visiting your allergist for professional allergy testing is an integral part of managing the condition. Skin prick testing and blood testing help identify the specific allergens that trigger seasonal allergy symptoms. With this knowledge, patients can receive the best medication and take steps to avoid allergen exposure.

Professional Seasonal Allergy Treatments in Atlanta

Chacko Allergy, Asthma and Sinus Center offers fast and practical solutions for allergic rhinitis and other allergies. For help managing seasonal allergies, visit us in Alpharetta, Atlanta, Canton, Cumming, Druid Hills, Duluth or Johns Creek. Call (678) 668-4688 or request an appointment now.