By: Dr. Madeleine Samuelson Herman, MD, MPH
Ragweed season is here! Houston’s allergies are especially bad because it’s warm and humid, meaning many allergens (like mold and dust mites) live year-round. What can you do to survive allergies?
Avoid. Manage. Treat.
1. Avoid: The best way to avoid allergies is to prevent them. To do this, you first need to know what you’re avoiding. To do this, you need to identify what you’re allergic to. Allergy testing allows you to know what you are allergic to so you can prevent the symptoms. When it’s you’re allergy season, you can prevent exposure with masks, nasal rinses, and medical management. Talk to your ENT about allergy testing.
2. Manage: Once you know what you’re allergic to and when your “season” is, you can manage your symptoms medically. Nasal steroid sprays are great at treating nasal allergy symptoms. Oral, second generation antihistamines help with your other symptoms. Talk to your ENT about creating an allergy symptom management plan.
3. Treat: Unless you treat your allergies, all you are doing is managing symptoms. Allergy shots and drops and sinus procedures is how you do this. Talk to your ENT about allergy treatments.
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