Navigating Seasonal Allergies: When to treat at home and when to call a doctor

Your paragraph text

By Hinsdale Magazine Group Staff

As the flowers bloom and trees bud, the annual struggle with seasonal allergies begins. Pollen fills the air, triggering sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes, and runny noses for millions. While over-the-counter medications provide relief for most, some cases require professional medical attention. Knowing when to visit the drugstore and when to call a doctor can help you manage your symptoms effectively.

Seasonal allergic rhinitis, commonly called hay fever, occurs when the immune system overreacts to allergens like pollen. Symptoms can include sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, itchy and watery eyes, post-nasal drip, a sore throat, coughing, and fatigue caused by poor sleep from nasal congestion. These symptoms usually start as pollen levels rise in early spring and can last through the summer, depending on the allergens that trigger your reaction.

Over-the-counter medications can offer significant relief for mild to moderate allergy symptoms. Antihistamines help reduce sneezing, itching, and a runny nose. Nasal corticosteroids are effective in reducing inflammation and congestion. Decongestants relieve nasal stuffiness, while eye drops can soothe itchy, watery eyes. For best results, it is essential to start taking allergy medications before symptoms become severe.

While over-the-counter medications help many people, they are not always enough. It is important to call a doctor if symptoms persist despite taking medication. If multiple treatments have been tried with little or no relief, prescription-strength options may be necessary. Severe nasal congestion that does not go away could indicate a sinus infection, which may require medical attention. Allergies can also trigger asthma symptoms, leading to wheezing, shortness of breath, or chest tightness, which should be evaluated by a healthcare provider. Prolonged nasal congestion can sometimes cause blocked Eustachian tubes, resulting in ear pain or infections. Emergency medical care is needed if symptoms extend beyond hay fever and include hives, swelling, or signs of anaphylaxis, such as difficulty breathing or throat swelling.

In addition to medication, lifestyle adjustments can help reduce exposure to allergens. Monitoring pollen counts and staying indoors when levels are high can minimize symptoms. Keeping windows closed prevents pollen from entering the home, while changing clothes and showering after being outdoors helps remove allergens from the skin and hair. An air purifier can also filter allergens inside the house, making indoor air cleaner and easier to breathe.

If seasonal allergies begin to impact daily life, consulting a doctor can provide additional solutions, such as immunotherapy in the form of allergy shots or tablets. These treatments help the body build long-term tolerance to allergens. Managing allergies effectively can make spring a season to enjoy rather than endure.

Author

Executive Chef Stephen Langlois

Feeding His Passion: Newly appointed Chef Stephen takes the helm at The Westin Chicago Lombard

The Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, NM

Celebrating A Century of Open Road: Now in its 100th year, this slice of Americana still beckons travelers

Tely Nagle, Drake Hotel Proprietor, in the Romanesque gardens
Photo by Victor Hilitski

Welcome In! The Drake Oak Brook’s elegance and charm are back to stay

ATJMAH_CM_2223

Striking the Right Note: The Chicago Youth Orchestra shapes the lives of aspiring young musicians

The camaraderie of the volunteers often keeps them involved after their student graduates

Always Boosting: Hinsdale Central’s Booster Club helps fill gaps in student activity and athletic budgets

Anne Schultz, MD, FACP Cindy Lagone, MD, FACP

Authentic Internal Medicine: Building relationships with patients and the community

Hair loss problem after covid search Instagram Post Minimalist -

Is hair loss on your mind? Reclaim Your Crowning Glory

Kristina and Matthew Bailey began reading books to their son, Owen when he was six months old— they haven’t stopped.
Owen turned 4 in June and recently received an award from the Clarendon Hills Public Library for having had 1,000 books read to him before starting kindergarten.

The library’s 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge is one of a few reading challenge programs offered in Clarendon Hills, where the Bailey family has lived for the past 2 1/2 years.
Kristin Bailey said she saw an ad about the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge and decided it was a good fit for Owen.

“He’s always been really into books,” Bailey said. “He had a natural interest in books at nine months old. That’s when COVID started, and he didn’t get out much, so reading books to him worked out very well. He’s a naturally curious kid, and imagination-building is important. The reading allows him to learn and explore new things, and he really wants to learn to read now.”

Krista Devlin, the Clarendon Hills library’s youth services librarian, said there’s a specific reason The Friends of the Library-sponsored 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge was started in 2022.

“Reading aloud to a child is one of the best ways to help develop important early literacy skills, which will prepare them for kindergarten,” Devlin said. “It is also a great way to bond with your child and to encourage a love of reading.”

Devlin said Owen was the second child to reach the challenge of having 1,000 books read to him before starting kindergarten. He was awarded a certificate, a crown, and his picture was taken to recognize his accomplishment.

Bailey, who said she is “a big reader,” said her family usually goes to the library once a week. Reading three books each night to Owen, along with a book before nap time, is the household normal.

“Consistency in our routine has been good and is important,” she said, adding that Owen’s two sisters, ages 2 1/2 and 1

An open book: Clarendon Hills four-year-old earns library recognition

Charlie Tomfohrde and his array of house plants for sale at the Hinsdale Farmers Market

A Budding Entrepreneur: Charlie Tomfohrde’s plant business continues to grow

Terri Doney (left) and co-founder Barb Thayer are “sisters” in the group, My Breast Cancer Sisters

Breast Cancer survivors: Hinsdale area group looking for others to help

Maxx Klein and Jack Klein

Airoom’s New Design Space Maxx and Jack Klein take the helm of their family’s business

IMG_4543

Oak Brook Bath & Tennis Club A Tennis Player’s Dream