What allergy treatments are best for you?

 

 Have you ever wondered what the best treatment is for allergies? 

Everyone seems to have different things that bother them, so how do you know what to take?

• Over the counter medication? Allegra, Claritin, Zyrtec
• Nasal antihistamine spray? Patanase, Asteline
• Nasal corticosteroid spray? Nasacort, Flonase
• Nasal wash? Neti pot
• Prescription medication? Singulair (treats asthma and allergies)
• Allergy shots?

 It's enough to make your head spin! I guess you could try different medications and see what helps you feel better.

But the best thing is to start with an allergist. He or she can test you and tell you exactly what you are allergic to. Rather than you trying to guess. You can help by keeping track of when your symptoms seem to get worse-where you outside or inside? Petting the neighbor's cat or dog? Hiking in the mountains? Picking out plants at the nursery? At your kid's soccer game?

To learn more about allergy testing from the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology click here.

This can be a tough time of year, and people really underestimate how miserable you can feel with allergies. It's like a cold that can last for months, and months. Sometimes it can turn into a sinus infection too, and that can cause horrible headaches.

It can be surprising when you finally get treated and start to feel better. You don't realize how miserable you've really been this whole time. Kind of like when I first got glasses and thought, "Wow! So this is how things are supposed to look?!" I didn't know what I was missing. It's the same thing with allergies. You forget what it feels like to be normal and not have symptoms!

Talk to your doctor and see what he wants you to try. Until then, pass the tissues!