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6 CRHEALTHCARE.ORG Mor a Hpita KEEP YOUR SPRINGTIME ALLERGIES UNDER CONTROL BY FOLLOWING A FEW KEY STEPS. Simple Steps to Breathe Better Don't suffer through the spring. In addition to taking the right allergy medications recommended by your healthcare provider, follow the habits listed below to help minimize seasonal allergy symptoms: • If you choose to exercise outside, plan on evening workouts. Less pollen floats around in the air after dusk. • Keep doors and windows closed, especially during the morning hours, when pollen counts are highest. • Rinse off in the shower before you hit the hay to wash away any pollen dusting your hair or skin. • Clean carpets regularly using a vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate arrestance (HEPA) filter. • When working in the yard, mowing the lawn or planting flowers, wear a protective mask to keep allergens away from your nasal passages. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology recommends a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-rated 95 filter mask. These tiny tweaks may make a big difference in your quality of life. Spring is here again—along with fresh crops of sneeze- worthy flowers and grasses. During this time of year, runny noses and sneezes run rampant, and in this part of the United States, common offenders are everywhere. Cedar, hickory and oak trees may cause problems for many people, along with Bermuda, Johnson and Kentucky grasses. The good news is you can take control. "Prevention and avoidance of allergens is the key to minimizing seasonal allergy symptoms, which may include congestion, itching, sinus pressure and sneezing," says Jayna Patel, DO, otolaryngologist with Coastal Carolina Ear, Nose and Throat. "Nasal steroids or antihistamine sprays and oral antihistamines are great options to manage spring and summer allergy symptoms, and they are most effective when started at the beginning of the allergy season." The team at Coastal Carolina Ear, Nose and Throat may perform a variety of tests to identify allergens impacting children and adults during the spring and throughout the rest of the year. Care providers are armed with an arsenal of treatment options, including: • Custom nasal steroid therapy • Nasal antihistamines • Nasal rinses • Allergy immunotherapy (including allergy shots or even sublingual drops) THE SINUS FACTOR If chronic allergies are constantly irritating your system, allergy specialists may recommend surgical therapies to open up the sinus passages. The team at Coastal Carolina Ear, Nose and Throat may recommend antibiotic therapy, nasal rinses or balloon sinuplasty, a minimally invasive surgical procedure. "Allergies are a continuous problem, but we want patients to feel encouraged and understand that relief is possible," Dr. Patel says. "Our practice tailors therapy based on each patient's needs." Sesol Alleries Looking for a healthcare provider to help you manage seasonal allergies? Visit crhealthcare.org and choose "Find a Doctor" or call 1-800-841-4938. OUTSMARTING JAYNA PATEL, DO