by CHRISSY GRAY
Guest Column
If you’ve been suffering from a mysterious cold that won’t respond to over-the-counter medications, you may not have a cold at all. In fact, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, you may be the one-in-seven Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies.
Seasonal allergies occur when pollens from grass, trees and weeds cause an overreaction of the immune system. This overreaction can cause uncomfortable symptoms such as sneezing, sniffling and watery, itchy eyes. Other more serious allergy symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, headaches, tightness in the chest and difficulty concentrating.
Allergy tests can help identify the reason for your cold-like symptoms, which is essential in developing a safe and effective treatment plan. While over-the-counter medications can be helpful, prescription drugs and steroid injections may be necessary to help alleviate your discomfort.
To minimize exposure to allergens, consider following these simple guidelines:
When Indoors:
• Close all windows and doors
• Turn the air conditioner or heater on when pollen levels are high
• Use a cheesecloth to cover air conditioning vents for filtration of the pollen
• Change out the filters in your system regularly – HEPA air filters are recommended
• Dust with a moist cloth
• Clean your home with a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner each week
• Bathe pets frequently
When Outdoors:
• Close car windows
• Keep the car air conditioner or heater on, in recirculation mode
• For extreme cases, cover your nose and mouth with a painter’s mask
• If outdoors for a long period of time, be sure to shower and change clothes upon arriving home
If you think your cold-like symptoms might be linked to allergies, clinicians can take the guess work out of which allergens are causing the problem by administering one of three tests. Once the offending allergens are identified, clinicians also can provide treatment regimens that might include over-the-counter medications, prescription drugs, or an “allergy relief package” that includes a steroid injection and B12 shot.
Spring doesn’t have to be a season of suffering. Minimize your exposure to seasonal allergens, and if that doesn’t work, visit your healthcare provider to get properly tested and treated.
Chrissy Gray is a certified Texas Medical Board Physician Assistant at RediClinic. She holds a Master of Physician Assistant Studies from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, and she attended The University of Texas at Austin for her undergraduate studies.
