Treat Fall Allergies Before Symptoms Begin

In some cases, hay fever is a minor nuisance. But if your symptoms are more persistent, they can make you miserable. They affect your work and your enjoyment of leisure activities. Finding the right treatment makes a big difference in how you will feel.

Weed pollen is the main cause of allergies in the late summer and early fall. Depending on where you live, the weeds will include ragweed, sagebrush, pigweed, tumbleweed and cocklebur.

Ragweed is the number one offender, say doctors at Allergy and Asthma Care of New York. One plant can produce a billion pollen grains.

Generally, people wait to treat allergy symptoms until they start. But the best way to get relief is to treat symptoms before they show up. Allergists at the National Jewish Medical & Research Center in Denver say that if you know your symptoms begin in late August, start your medication before that time and increase your dosage as the season progresses.

Though fall allergies can be triggered by allergens from another season, the result is the same.

For runny nose and sneezing: Ask your doctor for a prescription nasal corticosteroid. Over-the-counter antihistamines like Claritin can also help.

For itchy, watery eyes: Prescription eye drops can stabilize the cells in the eyes that react to allergens and the drops can be used with other treatments.

For nasal and sinus congestion: Over the counter decongestants can help. If not appropriate for your medical condition, see your doctor.

Some allergy sufferers think their antihistamines are losing strength as the season progresses. Actually, their allergy is progressing and they need more medication or need to add another.