The summertime doesn’t have to keep you stuck inside. Grass pollen, weed pollen, mold spores, and other allergens in the air can make you sneeze, have a stuffy nose, have itchy eyes, cough, and leave you feeling tired. If your allergy symptoms are mild, you may be able to reduce your exposure to these triggers and use nonprescription medicine. If you’re still experiencing symptoms or if they seem to be getting worse, it may be time to visit an allergy doctor.
Resource: healthline.com
Allergic rhinitis can happen in the spring, summer, and early fall. This condition affects your nose, eyes, throat, sinuses, and lungs. If you notice any of these 5 signs, it may be time to seek medical evaluation rather than continuing to manage your allergies on your own:
1. Your Symptoms Have Lasted for Several Weeks
It’s easy to deal with a day or two of sneezing after mowing the lawn. If your symptoms last longer than a week, return around the same time each year, or never completely go away during the summer, you may have seasonal allergies. If you’re congested, have a runny nose, sneeze often, or your eyes are itchy and watery, and these symptoms don’t get better, you’ll need help from a doctor. An allergist can determine whether you have an allergic reaction to pollen, mold, dust mites, pets, or something else.
2. Nonprescription Medicine Isn’t Doing the Job
Antihistamines, nasal sprays, and other over-the-counter medications may work well for some people, but they might not be enough for those who have moderate to severe allergies. In addition, some of these medicines can make you sleepy or cause dry mouth or other side effects. An allergist can talk with you about your symptoms, your current medications, and your medical history. Depending on your situation, you might need a different type of medicine, prescription medicine, or allergy testing to identify what may be triggering your symptoms. If over-the-counter medications aren’t helping you, or if they’re making you feel worse, see a doctor.
3. Your Allergies Are Interrupting Your Sleep and Daily Life
Congestion, coughing, postnasal drip, and itchy eyes can prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep. That means you may wake up feeling fatigued, irritable, and unable to focus at work or school. You may need to see a doctor for your summer allergies if your symptoms are preventing you from exercising, enjoying the outdoors, performing your daily tasks, or getting the amount of sleep you need. If your allergies are constantly affecting your normal routine, your current treatment isn’t enough.
4. You Have Ongoing Sinus or Respiratory Symptoms
Seasonal allergies can cause swelling and mucus to build up in your upper airways. Those symptoms can cause sinus pressure, a stuffy nose, postnasal drip, and a cough. Some people also develop wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath, especially if they have both allergies and asthma. Ongoing sinus symptoms can feel like a cold or a sinus infection. An allergist or ENT doctor can tell you which condition is causing your symptoms, such as allergies, asthma, or chronic sinusitis. Severe difficulty breathing, throat or tongue swelling, lightheadedness, or a sudden worsening of your symptoms require immediate medical attention.
5. You Cannot Identify Your Allergy Triggers
Summer allergy symptoms can be triggered by grass pollen, weed pollen, mold spores, or indoor allergens that are present year-round. If you do not know what’s causing your symptoms, it can be difficult to determine which prevention strategies and treatments will work best. Allergy testing can identify the specific allergens that trigger your symptoms. At Colorado ENT and Allergy, we can use your test results to create a plan that includes reducing your exposure to allergens, taking nonprescription or prescription medication, and immunotherapy (allergy shots or allergy drops).
Resource: my.clevelandclinic.org
How We Treat Summer Allergies
The treatment plan will depend on your symptoms, allergen triggers, medical history, and how you responded to medications in the past. An allergist may recommend:
- Reducing your exposure to any allergens you tested positive for.
- Using an antihistamine or nasal medication as directed.
- Starting a prescription medication, if appropriate.
- Treating your asthma or sinus symptoms.
- Determining whether immunotherapy is right for you if you have persistent environmental allergies.
Immunotherapy works by exposing your body to very small amounts of an allergen. Over time, this treatment can help your immune system build a tolerance to the allergen and reduce your symptoms. Not everyone is a candidate for immunotherapy with allergy shots or allergy drops, so talk with your allergist before you begin this type of treatment.
Visit a Doctor for Summer Allergies in Colorado Springs
Summer allergy symptoms shouldn’t have to keep you from sleeping, working, exercising, or enjoying outdoor activities. If you’re having ongoing symptoms, medications aren’t helping, you’re having trouble breathing, or you can’t identify what’s triggering your symptoms, you need to see a doctor. The allergy doctors at Colorado ENT and Allergy can evaluate your symptoms, test you for allergies, and prescribe treatment based on your test results. Contact Colorado ENT and Allergy to schedule a consultation for your summer allergy symptoms.