By Kristy Warren

Seasonal allergies are nothing to sneeze at: over 50 million Americans experience allergy symptoms each year. If you’re trying to find relief from seasonal allergies, you’re not alone. When spring arrives, many of the common culprits for seasonal allergies come out in force. From flowers and grasses to budding trees, this time of year brings a lot of allergens that make us sneeze!

Many Americans experience some form of allergic rhinitis in the springtime—an inflammation in the lining of the nose caused by allergies, but sometimes it can be hard to tell whether your respiratory symptoms are from illness or allergies. Wondering if your itchy eyes and runny nose could be from seasonal allergies? Family doctor Yekalo Beyene, MD breaks down what to watch for, how to prepare so you can breathe easier this allergy season, and when to talk to your doctor.

Our immune system is designed to protect us from harmful foreign substances like illness-carrying germs by identifying the danger and developing antibodies to combat it. Allergies happen when our body has this defensive immune response to something the body wouldn’t normally see as a threat like ragweed, pet dander, or trees.

People can be allergic to many different things, including food, medicine, animals, and substances found in their environment like dust, mold, or pollen.

Some allergies affect allergy sufferers all year long while others only occur during certain seasons.

The term “seasonal allergies” is used to describe environmental allergens which affect us during specific times of the year and change with the seasons like grass, pollen, tree blossoms, and weeds.

Suffering from dry, itchy eyes, sneezing, and a runny nose? Illness might not be to blame. If you’re wondering if your symptoms could be from seasonal allergies instead of a cold, we can help. So, how can we tell a runny nose caused by allergies apart from a runny nose caused by a cold?

“One of the ways to distinguish allergies from illness is the onset of symptoms and whether you feel itchy,” explains family physician Dr. Yekalo Beyene. “Ask yourself if your symptoms are persistent all day long or change based on where you are and what you’re doing. If you start sneezing the first week of May every year or always get itchy eyes after hiking through a field, chances are you are allergic to a plant that is blossoming at that time.”

When your immune system battles an allergen, it can cause inflammation and release chemicals like histamine that can cause uncomfortable symptoms affecting your nose, throat, eyes, and skin. If you're trying to determine if you have a seasonal allergy, examining the type of symptoms you're experiencing can help. 

The most common allergy symptoms include:

• Sneezing
  
• Itchy or watery eyes
  
• Scratchy throat
  
• Coughing or wheezing
  
• Runny nose 
  
• Nasal congestion (stuffy nose)
  
• Clogged ears
  
• Postnasal drip
  
• Itchy or irritated skin
   

Mild-to-moderate seasonal allergies can often be well-managed with over-the-counter antihistamines, nasal sprays, and decongestants. Some people also find relief through sinus rinses using a saline solution and a neti pot or nasal irrigation bottle. 

For allergy medications to be most effective, they need to be used consistently and routinely. If your allergies are seasonal, it’s also helpful to begin treatment a few weeks ahead of your peak allergy season. For example, if you know June is an especially challenging time for your sinuses every year, start your allergy medication approximately 4-6 weeks in advance to give it time to build up in your system.

Each person responds to allergy medications differently. It may take some time and trial-and-error to find what medication or combination of treatment options works best for you.

If you have struggled to find the right combination of treatment, talk to your family doctor for an expert opinion. 

Those with uncontrolled allergies may be a candidate for allergy shots or allergy drop therapy. Your healthcare provider can walk you through your treatment options and help you decide the best fit for you.

If you’re concerned about potential allergies or have trouble managing them, the Laurel Health Centers can help. Simply call 1-833-LAURELHC (1-833-528-7354) and select the center of your choice to set up a visit, or click here to view our provider directory to find a healthcare provider who will be a great fit for your care.

You may still have that nagging question in the back of your mind: how can you tell if you’re allergic to something or just feeling under the weather? Consider your symptoms carefully. Do you always react when you are exposed to a specific thing (e.g., a dog or cat, blooming trees, your backyard)? Do your symptoms begin when you step outside? Do your symptoms resolve after you’ve taken an antihistamine or steroid nasal spray like Flonase?

The biggest differentiators for allergies vs. illness are:

• Feeling itchy (e.g., itchy eyes, throat, mouth, or skin).
  
  
• How quickly your symptoms present. Allergies present quickly when you’re exposed to an allergen with no extended incubation period for developing symptoms.
  
  
• When your symptoms present. If you get itchy and sneezy while gardening, every time you pet a cat, or at the same time of the year every year, allergies are the more likely culprit.

When in doubt, ask an expert. If you’re currently experiencing respiratory symptoms and aren’t sure whether you’re dealing with allergies or illness, call your family medicine provider. Your provider will perform a thorough evaluation and determine what testing may be needed to determine the cause of your symptoms and the best treatment options.

Need to be seen? The Laurel Health Centers have you covered with an expert team spanning seven convenient locations across Tioga and Bradford Counties. We offer both onsite and telemedicine appointments at all locations. We also provide weekday walk-in care in Mansfield, Troy, and Wellsboro, PA to assure you can be seen same day. 

While many people can find relief from seasonal allergies with over-the-counter treatments, some situations require a medical expert. If someone appears to be having difficulty breathing or is experiencing any potentially life-threatening symptoms, always call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.

A call to your family doctor may also be in order if you're stumped about what's causing your symptoms, if you cannot determine what you're allergic to, or if you've tried several over-the-counter options and are still struggling with your symptoms. 

You should call your family medicine provider if:

• Your allergies are uncontrolled and making you miserable; Laurel Health can help you find an effective treatment plan to better manage your symptoms.
  
  
• You're unsure you have allergies or what specifically you're allergic to and want to confirm.
  
  
• You're concerned it might not be allergies and need to rule out sinus infections, COVID-19, or other respiratory illnesses.
  
  
• Over-the-counter medicines don’t seem to be working well to control your symptoms or you want to cut back on your use of those allergy medications.
  
  
• You want to discuss long-term symptom relief options like allergy shots or allergy drop therapies.
  
  

The Laurel Health Centers are here to help you identify and manage your allergies through safe, effective treatment that’s personalized to your allergy needs. If you are suffering from respiratory issues, don’t wait; make an appointment with the Laurel Health Centers today! Laurel Health can help you separate illnesses from allergies, treat sinus infections, and find an effective allergy treatment plan to better manage your symptoms.

Need help managing your allergies? Family doctor Dr. Yekalo Beyene is accepting patients of all ages at the Blossburg and Mansfield Laurel Health Centers. To make an appointment with Dr. Beyene, call 570-638-2174 (Blossburg) or 570-662-2002 (Mansfield).