(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Allergy season is here, and many who live in Colorado Springs are feeling it. Sneezing, wheezing, runny noses, itchy eyes, and general spring malaise have gripped the town. FOX21 spoke with a CVS pharmacist Nicole Henry about allergy season and she gave us some tips on how to get through it as comfortably as possible.
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Start medications before symptoms begin. This is a tip for next year, perhaps, as allergy season begins right around the first day of Spring, which was March 19 this year. But it’s a good idea to begin your regimen of allergy medications early.
“It’s really important if patients can ideally start medications about 2 to 4 weeks prior to allergy season,” Henry said. “That way they can kind of build up effectiveness, to make sure that our patients don’t experience such severe allergy symptoms. Our goal is to decrease this severity. We are in full-blown allergy season at this time, but it’s never too late to get started.”
Make sure you have the right medication. Antihistamines, decongestants, or steroids all apply to different symptoms and different severity of symptoms.
Courtesy: CVS Health
“Patients can take an antihistamine, which is going to decrease anything from running,” Henry pointed out. “They can use a decongestant that’s going to open the nasal passages so they can breathe a little bit easier, or they can use a corticosteroid nasal spray, which is also going to open those passages and then dry up anything that’s running. If they do have any more severe symptoms—that would be difficulty breathing—they can get a prescription for an inhaler or a burst course therapy of steroids just to make sure that they can cope with the allergy season.”
Try home remedies in addition to medication. Some people would rather try a home remedy or homeopathic remedy, and there are home remedies that can help.
“If our patients don’t want to take a medication, they can use some nasal rinses or nasal washes, such as saline-based non-medicated rinses,” Henry recommended. “And there are other healthy habits, like hand hygiene, or exercise. And then if patients do have pets, make sure to brush them while they’re outside so the pets aren’t bringing any of that pollen into the house which can then cause allergic reactions.”
When in doubt, ask a pharmacist. Some people have other conditions that may cause concern when taking over-the-counter allergy medications. Pharmacists are there to help patients choose the right medication.
Courtesy: CVS Health
“As pharmacists, we can provide counseling based on any disease conditions that a patient may have,” Henry said. “So if they do have high blood pressure or glaucoma, there are certain medications for allergies that are not recommended for them to take. So if patients do come in, we can provide that consultation and let them know if that medication is right for them and make sure that that’s a good fit.”
Henry said the pollen count is very high this year in the Colorado Springs area and it’s important that patients take extra precautions, especially if they are susceptible to allergies.
“They can step in and speak to their local pharmacist and we can provide all sorts of recommendations for over-the-counter products to make sure that they can be healthy,” she said.
