What’s the Best Way to Handle the Upcoming Spring Allergy Season?

We are all looking forward to enjoying the warmer spring weather. Enough of this cold and rain!

But with the better weather, the trees, plants, weeds, and grasses will be there growing filling our air with tiny pollen molecules.

Itchy eyes, sneezing, runny nose, postnasal drip, congestion, sinus pressure, sinus infections…. they can force us back inside, missing the beautiful spring weather.

AVOIDANCE

Certainly, avoidance is one strategy. But who wants to be stuck inside?

A variety of saline rinses can serve as a type of avoidance by rinsing off pollen after exposure. But they have limited effect and can be messy and unpleasant.

MEDICINE

Medicines such as antihistamines, nasal steroid sprays, decongestants can help some, but they don’t prevent allergy. They allow the allergic reaction to happen and then try and cover up the symptoms. They are not very effective and become less effective over time. They also have side effects such as dryness, nasal bleeding, drowsiness, elevated blood pressure, and prostate issues.

HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENTS

Homeopathic treatments such as local honey and allergy drops from the grocery store might stimulate your immune system to have antibodies to block some of your allergy reactions.  Unfortunately, these methods are very weak and not specific to what may trigger your allergies. As such, their benefit is limited and short-lasting.

SUBLINGUAL IMMUNOTHERAPY (SLIT)

Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT) or commonly referred to allergy drops, offered by our office, is based on your history and needle-free allergy skin testing.  We then make custom, highly potent, allergy drops specifically for you or your child. These drops are placed under your tongue once daily to make their immune system create blocking antibodies to prevent their allergic reaction. These drops start working very quickly.  In just weeks the patient is benefitting.  Allergy drops are just as effective as allergy shots but safer, more convenient, easier to be compliant with, and much faster acting. In most cases, our allergy drops are also the cheaper alternative to shots or medicine. The best part is that after 36 months, most people can discontinue the drops and the benefit will last without further treatment.

If you are concerned that your spring allergies may put a damper on your enjoyment, come see us now to get started on allergy drops from Sinus and Snoring Specialists.  Contact us today at 512.601.0303 to schedule an appointment!