Fighting Seasonal Allergies

Helping you spring into action.

Seasonal allergies are no joke. As the weather gets warmer and spring starts to bloom, 50 million Americans are affected by seasonal allergies.

Sometimes it seems like most of them are in Oklahoma, where we tend to have one of the toughest allergy seasons in the U.S. And if you’re one of those millions, you may think you have no choice but to grin and bear it. But at INTEGRIS, we think there’s a better way.

Seasonal allergies (also called allergic rhinitis or hay fever) are your immune system’s heightened response to allergens, like plant pollens or pet dander. If you think you’re suffering from seasonal allergies, take a moment to see what you’re up against, and know that help is definitely available.

Allergies or Cold?

Symptoms that present like seasonal allergies may, in fact, be a cold in disguise. So, what’s the best way to tell the difference?

Common Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Symptoms of seasonal allergies tend to manifest after a significant seasonal change, along with an increased pollen count. If you see a trend in developing a “cold” after the weather changes every year, you may have seasonal allergies. Symptoms of untreated seasonal allergies could last several weeks.

Symptoms (Most Common to Least Common):

Sneezing
Stuffy Nose
Watery Eyes
Runny Nose
Itchy & Red Eyes
Fatigue & Weakness (uncommon)
Cough (uncommon)
Sore Throat (rare)
Allergen-Induced Asthma (rare)

Source: Mayo Clinic

Common Cold Symptoms

Cold symptoms appear gradually. The common cold is caused by viruses, not allergens. This spreads from those infected with the virus to others through the air and close personal contact. With treatment, an average cold can last from three to ten days.

Symptoms (Most Common to Least Common):

Sneezing
Stuffy Nose
Sore Throat
Fatigue & Weakness
Chest Discomfort & Cough
General Aches & Pains
Chills (uncommon)
Fever (rare)
Headache (rare)
Itchy Eyes (rare)

Source: CDC, Mayo Clinic

Mitigate Allergy Symptoms

Reducing exposure to common allergens is one of your best bets to staying ahead of your allergies. But just staying indoors can be challenging as the weather becomes more pleasant or you have yard work to do.

Here are more ways to keep your allergies in check:

Shower and wash your clothes frequently to remove allergens, especially if doing outdoor work of any kind.
Skip hanging the laundry to dry outside, since pollen can stick to these items.
Check local news to learn of the pollen counts and upcoming forecast.
Use air conditioning at home and on the road, and don’t use the recycled air feature in the car.
Take over-the-counter allergy medication, especially if pollen is forecasted to be high.
Use oral antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays or other types of over-the-counter allergy medication.
Perform a saline nasal rinse to flush out mucus and pollen.

Finally, if your seasonal allergies are taking over your life, consider consulting a doctor at INTEGRIS Health to see additional options treatment or do a round of allergen immunotherapy.

Get Care Anytime–INTEGRIS Health Virtual Visit

This time of year brings beautiful weather, but it can also bring allergies, cuts, bites, stings and burns. But INTEGRIS Virtual Visit is standing by with doctors and nurse practitioners 24/7 – ready to advise on first aid, help you get some relief and maybe even save you a trip to the ER.