Allergy Season Has Arrived

By Dr. Malcolm Blumenthal, M.D.
(April 20, 2004; Updated Nov. 17, 2005)
An estimated 36 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies, sometimes referred to as hay fever. Symptoms like sneezing, having a runny nose or having watery, itchy eyes are all signs that the allergy season has arrived.

Allergies are the result of the body overreacting to pollens and other substances it perceives as a threat. Sneezing, developing a runny nose or watery eyes are ways the body tries to eliminate that misidentified threat. If your parents have allergies, you are likely to: The inheritability of allergies has been estimated to be up to 70 percent.

Minnesota's allergy season starts in March or April and typically ends in September or October. The typical season starts with the blooming of trees--ash, birch, elms, maples, and oaks. That's followed by grass season--the end of May through July. Those who have problems with weeds, such as ragweed, tend to suffer most from mid-August to mid-September.

Other sources of allergy symptoms are mold, which tends to be worse during the warm and wetter months. Dust mites, which live indoors, can affect people year-round but typically are highest in concentration during warm and humid conditions. Another source of year-round allergies is pet dander.

The first line of defense for anyone suffering from allergies is to avoid the source. That means staying indoors with the air conditioning on, running the air conditioning in your car, and regularly dusting and vacuuming your house. Other tricks include avoiding the outdoors during early morning and early evening hours, when pollen levels are highest.

The next step is to try over-the-counter medications available at discount stores and pharmacies. These include a variety of antihistamines (which combat the body's reaction to allergens and relieve symptoms like sneezing) and decongestants that can alleviate a stuffy nose.

These medications include sedative antihistamines, like Benadryl or Cholortrimeton, which come in tablets. Some people become drowsy when they take these medications. Drugs like Claritin (Loradidine), which is available over the counter, are non-sedative antihistamines and can be safer. Some people get relief from preventive sprays like NasalCrom. Nasal saline sprays can help wash out irritants.  A variety of eye drops can help relieve itchy, irritated eyes.

Those who don't get relief from over-the-counter products should see a doctor. There are a number of medications available by prescription to combat allergy symptoms. Some are antihistamines, like Allegra or Zyrtec. Some drugs, like Zyrtec D and Allegra D, are combinations of antihistamines and decongestants. Other drugs, like Singulair, block production of a substance called leukotrines, which are involved in the production of allergy symptoms. Nasal steroids, like Rhinocort, Flonase, Nasonex and Nasacort, can reduce the inflammation and symptoms like the runny and congested nose.

Another line of defense is allergy shots. Allergy shots work by training the body not to react to substances like pollens, pet dander or dust mites. The extracts are made for individual patients and they are typically given on one-week intervals for six months to a year, followed by monthly shots to maintain that immunity. Most people take them for three to five years.