Spring Allergies Are Coming: Testing, Treatment, and Prevention Tips That Actually Work

We’re flipping days on the calendar rapidly, which means spring is almost here. Warmer temperatures, more time outdoors, all the fun spring activities are in your future.

On the other hand, spring allergies are also on the way, and if you suffer from them each year, you know how much of a problem they can be.

At Phillips Family Medical, Pamela Phillips, Ph.D., FNP-C, and our expert team are here to relieve that problem. Here are some testing, treatment, and prevention tips for spring allergies that actually work.

Testing

Spring allergies are usually triggered by allergens such as pollen or grass that your immune system thinks are harmful invaders. To fight these invaders, your body releases histamine, which causes the classic symptoms of allergies, including runny nose, sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes, and a scratchy throat.

One of the first steps to fighting allergies is testing to determine your triggers. We can do this by reviewing your history, including your typical symptoms, so we can spot seasonal patterns that may point toward certain triggers.

We can also do a couple of kinds of testing:

Skin prick testing

We prick your skin with many different known allergens to watch your reactions and determine which ones you’re allergic to.

Blood testing

When skin prick testing isn’t a good option, we can take a sample of your blood and run it through testing to find your triggers as well.

Treatment

Once we know the problem, we can focus on a solution. Potential treatment options include:

• Antihistamines: these over-the-counter (OTC) medications fight congestion, itchy eyes, and sneezing, and usually come in daytime and nighttime versions to help you sleep
• Nasal steroid sprays: a first line of defense for congestion, they work best with consistent daily use
• Saline rinse: a neti pot or sinus rinse can help clear pollen or other allergens out of your nasal passages
• Medications: for stronger allergies, we may recommend a stronger prescription medicine to fight your symptoms
• Immunotherapy: if you have severe allergies, you may be a good candidate for immunotherapy, which consists of allergy shots or drops that retrain your immune system over time

The best treatments for you will depend on how severe your symptoms are, your medical history, and your specific triggers.

Prevention

Medication is helpful, but if you can prevent allergies from occurring in the first place, that’s even better. A few tips:

If you know you have seasonal allergies, start taking your medications a couple of weeks before your symptoms usually appear to get a head start.

Check the pollen counts every day, and try to limit your time outside during high-count days. Wear a mask if you’re working in the yard or gardening, and when you’ve been outside for a while, change your clothes and take a shower after coming in to remove any allergens from your clothes and body.

When you’re inside, keep your windows and doors closed, and use a HEPA filter in your air conditioning system.

Following these steps will make a big difference in your symptoms. If you’d like additional professional guidance dealing with your spring allergies, our team at Phillips Family Medicine is here to help. To schedule an appointment, call our DeSoto, Texas, office today at 972-861-1151 or use our online scheduler to book your own convenient time.