There are a number of things you can do to make this “worse than ever” allergy season much more manageable for you.  But at a time when a variety of viruses, like COVID, RSV, the flu and the common cold are also quite prevalent, first figure out if your symptoms are allergic.

Allergies vs. Viruses 

1. It is important to know that you can grow into allergies just as you can grow out of them.  So just because you have never had allergies before, doesn’t mean you don’t have them now.  Sometimes it only takes long-term exposure plus a bad season to do the trick. 
2. Allergies do NOT cause swollen glands and/or fever, so if you have those symptoms, you most likely have a virus. 
3. If you itch, it is most likely an allergy.  While both viruses and allergies cause congestion, coughing and sneezing, itchy eyes, throat, and ears are sure signs of allergies. 
4. Headaches could go either way. There are allergy headaches, congestion headaches and sinus infection headaches, and they all feel pretty much the same.  If you have no other symptoms besides a bad headache with congestion, you should check with a medical provider.  Otherwise, refer to the fever versus itch concept. 

How to Make Yourself Less Miserable During this Miserable Allergy Season  

1. Get ahead of your worst symptoms.  If you know you have seasonal allergies but haven’t already experienced symptoms, start treatment now.  An antihistamine will prevent you from becoming symptomatic when you are exposed to allergens, and you know they are coming.  If you generally use a corticosteroid nasal spray, remember that they take five to seven days to kick in, so it’s a good idea to begin the process.  Remember to take non-drowsy antihistamines during the day and different medication at night. 
2. If symptoms have started, try allergy meds with decongestant.  Most brands of antihistamines have versions that include a decongestant.  If you are very congested try the -D versions until your symptoms lessen.  Then go back to your usual medication.  Remember to be careful if you also take ADHD medication since both have stimulant effects. 
3. Think about alternative therapies.  According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), two alternative, or “complementary” therapies have been proven to help mitigate the symptoms of seasonal allergies. 
4. Acupuncture:  It is not entirely clear why this works, but more than a decade’s worth of studies show that acupuncture has relieved symptoms for many allergy sufferers.  Just make sure to find a reputable, experienced practitioner. 
5. Nasal rinses and neti pots:  Nasal irrigation can be very effective for obvious reasons.  Most seasonal allergens enter your body through your nose, so rinsing them out is a terrific idea.  The most important thing to know about nasal rinses is that if you are mixing saline with water the water must be distilled or boiled first.  Tap water, even hot tap water, can contain bacteria, which can be very harmful if they enter your body though your nasal membranes.  
6. Pull out your COVID masks:  They’re not foolproof, but studies show that masks, especially N95 masks, can significantly reduce the amount of allergens that enter your nose and mouth.  If you are prone to allergic conjunctivitis (eye allergies), masks won’t help. 
7. Leave your shoes at the door:  Even if you’ve taken your medication, sprayed your nose and have worn a mask, it won’t help much if you track pollen into your home.  During allergy season, make it a habit to have everyone remove their shoes before entering your home.  It can make a huge difference. 
8. Change your clothes and shower in the evening:  Similarly, pollen clings to your body and your clothes.  It’s a good idea to change your clothes when you come in from outside.  Taking an immediate shower is a great idea, but if that isn’t feasible, shower before you go to bed so that you are not breathing in pollen all night long. 
9. Keep your windows closed: It sounds awful to close your windows just when you want to let in the fresh, spring air.  But if you are an allergy sufferer, that’s a recipe for disaster.  For those of us with allergies, air conditioning is just as important in the spring as it is in the summer season.
10. Stay inside after thunderstorms: Rain and pollen have a love-hate relationship. Rain showers often provide relief for allergy sufferers because rain can temporarily clear pollen from the air. But thunderstorms can actually increase pollen counts since lightning, wind, and temperature changes can stir things up. 

What Doesn’t Work Against Allergy Symptoms 

There are a few myths about allergy remedies that just don’t want to go away.   

• Honey:  It was thought that if a person ate local honey, they would be ingesting local pollen and become less sensitive to it over time. The idea behind honey treating allergies is similar to that of a person getting allergy shots. But while allergy shots have been proven to be effective, honey has not.  

• Essential oils: If you Google “essential oils and allergies,” you’ll find a ton of misleading information touting everything including peppermint, frankincense, lemon, lavender, and basil oils for allergies. There is no information on how one might use these oils and no evidence that any essential oil will help you with your allergies.  The reverse may be true in that inhaling some oils may irritate your nasal passages.  The one exception to that rule might be the eucalyptus oil found in cough drops and nasal inhalers. If they work for you, use the products, not the oil.   

• Supplements: The only supplements that have been extensively tested against allergy symptoms have been probiotics.  The results of those studies don’t indicate that probiotics are effective in reducing symptoms.  There is no data to support the idea that any other supplement can mitigate the misery of allergies.  And, as we often point out, supplements are unregulated, so it impossible to know if what is listed on the bottle is actually what is in the bottle. 

Who Should Get Tested for Seasonal Allergies? 

Seasonal allergies are not like food allergies where not knowing what you are allergic to can be extremely dangerous.  And while you can avoid tree nuts, it is almost impossible to completely avoid tree pollen, so finding out you are allergic to it isn’t all that useful.  However, there are many different types of pollen, and if you find yourself being very reactive on some days and not on others it may be worthwhile to find out exactly what type of seasonal allergies you have. 

As a rule, the allergy “scratch test,” usually done on your back by introducing allergens to a set of tiny scratches in your skin, is much more effective than a blood test.  The test also allows you to consider immunotherapy for your allergies.  Immunotherapy can be taken by injection or sublingually (in drops under your tongue).  The idea is to introduce tiny amounts of your allergen into your system. This exposure improves your tolerance to the substance and reduces allergy symptoms.  Allergy tests are quite often covered by insurance, but shots must be administered in a medical office, which can be inconvenient and pricey. 

Amaze Medical Provider, Dottie Steinhoff, offers this advice: “If you have tried the usual medications like nasal sprays (steroid sprays like Nasacort or Flonase) and allergy medications like loratadine (Claritin), fexofenadine (Allegra), or cetirizine (Zyrtec) without relief, and you have allergy symptoms a good portion of the year, it is time to try allergy testing.  If you have to get steroid shots every year to survive allergy season, and take the above medications without relief, it is time to get allergy testing.    Remember that there are a lot of places where allergies hide, like fluffy blankets, stuffed animals, carpets, rugs, and furniture.  Keeping these washed and away from pets are often helpful as well.”   

The Bottom Line on a Bad Allergy Season 

First, get used to feeling worse year after year since global warming, the cause of early, aggressive allergy seasons, isn’t going to reverse itself.  Second, start planning for the season in early March instead of early April.  Start treating yourself before symptoms start and consider masking for a month or two.  Finally, do whatever you can to keep pollen out of your home, so you can give your sneezes a much-needed break!