Allergy Allergy
HANDLE YOUR SEASONAL
ALLERGIES—DON'T LET THEM
HANDLE YOU.
Is It Time to Stop Self-medicating?
Many allergists advise that over-the-counter allergy
medications require two weeks to begin fully working.
Seasonal allergy sufferers sometimes report that over-
the-counter remedies do not treat all symptoms. If this
is the case for you, talk with your doctor. He or she may
be able to prescribe a more effective treatment. Signs
that indicate you might benefit from a different allergy
medication include:
• You consistently take an allergy medication but aren't
seeing symptom relief.
• The relief you are seeing doesn't improve over time.
• Your symptoms still interfere with your daily life—
causing you to lose sleep, avoid the outdoors, or feel
constantly sick or fatigued.
MYTHBUSTING
DOES YOUR BODY completely overreact when things
begin to bloom again every spring? Congratulations—
you've got seasonal allergies. When it comes to dealing
with them, don't fall for these common misconceptions.
MYTH 1: Allergies aren't genetic.
Incorrect! While your environment provides the higher
pollen levels that make you feel awful, your genes play
a role as well. If your mother or father is prone to fits of
sneezing and watery eyes every spring, chances are you
might be, too.
MYTH 2: Pollen is the only cause of spiking
allergy symptoms.
Not so! While pollen is the main culprit, mold allergies
tend to worsen when the weather is rainy or humid.
MYTH 3: To get relief, medicine is your
only hope.
Not true! Fortunately, you can make behavioral
changes in order to reduce your exposure to the
allergens that set off your body's immune
response. Keep an eye on the pollen count
and avoid spending time outdoors when
pollen levels are reported at a high level.
Work to keep your stress levels low to reduce
your symptom severity.