Tips for fighting off allergies this season

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Allergy season is upon us and soon enough trees will flower and grass will green, bringing with them the pollen that makes so many of us miserable. With grass allergy season expected to hit mid-May, you would be wise to plan a head start on your defence.

Pharmacist Carolyn Whiskin suggests a “combination of an antihistamine tablet as a base and adding to it” will create the most effectiveness.

Allergies are caused by too much histamine, it’s a compound that attaches to a receptor, causing inflammation that leads to allergy symptom. Whisken explains: “antihistamine is literally blocking that receptor, almost like we’re putting gum in that light bulb socket. So when the histamine is released, it doesn’t have a spot to trigger and cause the response.”

Different antihistamines work differently but are best taken daily, before symptoms start. Some sufferers will need to add a prescription nasal spray for a runny nose and that remedy can take over a week to kick in.

Allergist Dr. Joseph Greenbaum says “topical steroid, the nose sprays, take about a week or so to really get going. They don’t work that day, and they don’t work if you take it sometimes. You need to build it up and maintain it.”

Eye drops can be used when redness and itching flares up. Unfortunately, the more time you spend outside, the more exposure to allergens you face. So on days when pollen levels are particularly high, you may want to stay indoors, keep your windows closed and set your air conditioner on circulate.

Tree allergies peak in April and May, grass allergies hit their high in June and July and unfortunately, the torture will continue in August with ragweed allergies. While it’s too late to get allergy shots for grass season, they’re still an option for ragweed season, a dissolvable tablet is also available to build up ragweed immunity.