Uh-Oh, it's Spring: Why You Can't Escape Seasonal Allergies and How

With spring around the corner, it’s time to head-off allergies before they become a problem. Not sure if you’re battling a cold or seasonal allergies? The symptoms can be similar, so it’s important to know exactly what to look for. When the symptoms set in and how long they last for have a lot to do with differentiating between allergies and a run-of-the-mill cold, too.

What exactly is pollen? And why am I so allergic to it???

During the spring, male grains of pollen look for female plants to fertilize. Cute and romantic, right? Maybe for the pollen, but definitely not for you. Along their journey, some grains get inhaled or caught in your eye. If your body makes IgE antibodies, you’ll be allergic to the pollen, launching a full-on allergy attack. 

Why? Because those antibodies provide a coating for the immune system’s mast cells that are found in the nose, eyes, throat, lungs and skin. “But a ‘coating’ sounds warm and fuzzy!” It’s not. When coated, the cells release histamine and you end up in misery. Histamine makes your mucous membranes work harder than they’ve ever worked before.

Allergy Symptoms

Signs that you’re having an allergy attack include:

• Constricted airways, which leads to shortness of breath and a tight feeling in the chest.
• Itchy throat
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Swollen eyelids
• Watery eyes

Unless you take an antihistamine, this cycle will continue, so long as you’re exposed to pollen.

Tips for Taking Antihistamine and Other Allergy Meds

Take an antihistamine as soon as you think you’re allergies will start up. Better yet, take an antihistamine before you think your allergies are going to kick in. If you wait for a few hours after the attack, your nose will be plugged up and the antihistamine will be less effective. If you wait for a few days, you could end up being so phlegmy that you’ll develop a cough and even start to snore. You may need a prescription nasal steroid if your attacks tend to be really bad.

Why You Need an Antihistamine

Prefer the natural route when it comes to self-medication? Think again. Congestion will make it hard for the cilia in your body to rid you of germs. In turn, your body becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, which could lead to sinus and ear infections. Don’t worry, though. You won’t need an antihistamine year-round. Once the autumn comes around again, your allergies should go away on their own.

But…Maybe I just have a cold?

Maybe you do! If you don’t think you have an infection yet, though, you don’t necessarily have to visit the doctor. Taking an antihistamine will give you insight into what exactly you’re dealing with. If your symptoms get better or go away with an antihistamine, you probably have allergies; if they persist, you probably have a nasty cold. Also, what may start as a cold may last longer because you also have allergies. For example, it can take longer to get over a sniffly nose and a cough if your allergies are contributing to the problem.

Gary Ross is an avid blogger and contributor to Ammamed.com, a leading pain management center in Fort Lauderdale Florida.