Seasonal allergy symptoms can range from a minor inconvenience to a serious disruption in your daily life. Some symptoms are manageable on your own, while others are best managed with the help of family and allergy doctors. Below is more information about currently pervasive allergens and how to cope.

How Can I Reduce My Allergy Symptoms?

In the Pacific Northwest, early spring brings tree pollen, while grass is more prevalent in later spring. One of the most effective ways to manage symptoms is to minimize exposure to your allergen. Consider hiring someone else to mow your lawn during grass season. Keep windows closed, and run your home’s HVAC system with a fan to filter allergens out of the air.

Over-the-counter antihistamines can help you manage itchiness, sneezing, and a runny nose, although they may leave you feeling drowsy. Wash your face at night to remove traces of allergens from your skin and get a better night’s sleep. You can also use nasal irrigation to flush mucus and allergens from your nasal passages.

When Should I Seek the Help of Allergy Doctors?

When managing your symptoms is not enough and allergies are disrupting your life, it’s time to see a doctor. Allergy doctors can perform testing to discover your worst triggers, and they will create a treatment plan to target them. Immunotherapy (allergy shots) contain small amounts of your allergens that, when delivered consistently over time, will desensitize your body. This course of treatment provides long-term relief when medications are not enough.

Your doctor can also help you manage your symptoms by prescribing stronger medications that won’t leave you feeling drowsy. If you have developed asthma triggered by allergies, they may also prescribe a corticosteroid inhaler to repair the damage in your trachea and an emergency inhaler in case you experience an attack.

When your allergies are beyond the help of over-the-counter treatment, visit the walk-in clinic at Island Hospital. They have served the Anacortes, WA, community since 1962. This hospital and cancer center has been ranked a Top 100 Hospital in the US, among its many additional honors. With 190 doctors and health care providers with expertise in advanced cancer care, emergency medicine, physical therapy, and more, Island Hospital is your one-stop health care provider for the whole family. Search their provider directory online to find a doctor, and call (360) 299-1300 to schedule an appointment.