Treatment Options for Springtime Allergies and Asthma

If you suffer from springtime allergies and asthma, it’s worthwhile to explore all your treatment options. Maybe you haven’t found a treatment that really works for you, or maybe you want to try something different from your current treatment. These days, there are really quite a few treatment options available. Here are some of them for you to consider.

Over-the-Counter Medications

If your spring allergies and/or asthma are mild to moderate, you might be fine with taking over-the-counter (OTC) medicine as-needed. For some people, this may mean taking it only on days when the pollen count is high, or when you know you’ll be outdoors for a while. Some people just take a short-duration medicine only at night.

OTC medications are antihistamines, and there is quite a variety. If you plan to take it at night, a non-drowsy formula might make you jittery. On the other hand, if you get a regular formula and take it during the day, it might compromise your alertness. And if one doesn’t work for you, try another – antihistamines can vary quite a bit in their side effects and effectiveness.

Other OTC medications are not taken orally. Instead, these medications are delivered directly into the nose and/or lungs.

Prescription Medications

If your asthma is life-threatening and/or severe, or your allergies affect your life to the point that you are bed-ridden or can’t function normally, you might want to talk to your doctor about a prescription. Inhalers, oral medications, and nasal sprays all come in prescription strengths. Sometimes, these prescribed medications have fewer side effects, such as drowsiness, than OTC medications.

A Natural Approach

If you don’t like the idea of taking medications, you might prefer a more natural approach. Here are some natural treatment options for allergies and asthma.

* Neti pots flush out nasal passages and help minimize nasal allergy symptoms. The neti pot flushes allergens out of the nasal cavity, hopefully before they can cause a reaction.

* Some herbs, like stinging nettle, may be effective if taken for allergies.

* Protein-dissolving enzyme supplements are another natural approach to allergy management. Allergens are, as a rule, proteins; so supplements containing these enzymes may help to eradicate the allergen before it causes a reaction.

Immunotherapy (Allergy Shots)

If you have a hard time tolerating medications or if it’s just not something you want to do, immunotherapy might work for you. Talk to your doctor about this series of injections that is supposed to desensitize your body to the allergen(s). It works by introducing a tiny amount of the allergen under the skin via injection, then slowly increasing the amount of the allergen in each shot. Usually, you receive a shot once or twice a week, and then gradually taper off.