Are Allergy Symptoms Dragging You Down?

Allergies may seem like a minor ailment easily remedied by reaching for a box of tissues or popping a drugstore pill. But if you're one of the 35 million Americans with allergic rhinitis better known as hay fever or seasonal allergies -- then you know the real deal on this chronic condition: Allergy symptoms can make you miserable.

Here's why: The itchy eyes, blocked ears, stuffy nose, incessant sneezing and scratchy throat that signal an allergy attack can seriously mess with everyday life. "Studies show that adults with allergies call in sick and are less productive when they do go to work, and children don't do as well on tests when they're dealing with allergy symptoms," says Alan Goldsobel, MD, an allergist at Allergy and Asthma Associates of Northern California and an associate clinical professor at Stanford University. "I see patients all the time who tell me they just feel plain lousy," Goldsobel says.

It doesn't have to be that way. Below, allergy experts like Goldsobel tell WebMD how people with allergies can keep allergy symptoms in check -- and offer effective strategies to manage these persistent problems when you can't keep them at bay. The bottom line: You don't have to put up with allergy symptoms dragging you down.

Find Your Allergy Triggers

Common allergy culprits include:

• Pollen from trees, grasses and weeds
• House dust and dust mites -- tiny creatures that take up residence in your home
• Mold or mildew, especially problematic in humid parts of the country
• Pet dander -- proteins found in the skin, saliva, and urine of cats and dogs

If it's not obvious what sets off your allergy symptoms, then it's time to do a little detective work. Make a note of when your allergy symptoms flare.

• What time of year is it? (With seasonal allergies, plant pollens are more of a problem in spring, ragweed and mold are a bigger hassle come summer and fall.)
• What are you doing? Where are you? (Indoors, outdoors, at work, school or home?)

Share these clues with your doctor.

Once you figure out what sparks your allergy symptoms, then it's smart to do all you can to steer clear of the things that make you sick. That may be easier said than done, particularly if it's an airborne substance like pollen that you can't control, says Stephen Wasserman, MD, an allergist and professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego.

But you can often avoid irritants such as tobacco smoke, aerosol sprays, fumes, or air pollution, all of which may make allergy symptoms worse, says Jonathan Bernstein, MD, an allergist and professor of clinical medicine at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio.

Change Your Environment to Reduce Allergies

And there are lots of simple steps you can take to minimize exposure to substances that fuel your allergy symptoms, advises Bernstein and other allergists interviewed by WebMD. If pollen is your problem then:

• Keep your doors and windows shut during peak pollen periods and use air conditioning instead (cover vents with cheesecloth to filter pollen).
• Bathe before bedtime -- and wash your hair -- to get rid of pollen that may have settled on your body during the day.
• Exercise indoors on days when the pollen count is high or outdoors in the evening when counts are lowest.
• Close windows while driving and set the air conditioner to recirculate.
• Keep walks in gardens and wooded areas to a minimum.
• Stay indoors as much as possible on hot, dry, windy days when pollen counts climb.
• Wear a mask when gardening or mowing the lawn.
• Dry your clothes and linens indoors, not outside.

For dust and dust mite allergies, don a dust mask and channel your best domestic goddess routine (or hire someone who can do it for you.) Consider these dust-busting tips:

• Keep surfaces free of clutter, knick-knacks, and other dust magnets.
• Get rid of wall-to-wall carpet; bare floors are preferable, particularly in the bedroom.
• Wash throw rugs regularly.
• Cover pillows, mattresses, and box springs with allergen encasings.
• Wash bedding weekly in hot water to kill mites.
• Vacuum once or twice a week using a cleaner with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter or double filter bags.

The easiest way to prevent animal dander allergy symptoms is to find a new home for your four-legged, furry friends. If you can't bear to part with the family pet, at least bar Fido from your bedroom and main activity room. Also, vacuum three times a week with a HEPA filter, says Bernstein. And be warned: Animal dander can hang around a home for months even after a pet is gone, since animal allergens are sticky.

Avoid mold spores by reducing moisture in rooms where water is present such as kitchens, bathrooms, and basements, and fix any leaks that may cause dampness. Dehumidifiers can help reduce mold. Give away houseplants or limit yourself to a favorite few, since mold loves living in potting soil. Get rid of yard debris like firewood or piles of leaves that can attract mold; if you do it yourself, wear a filter mask -- available at hardware shops or drug stores -- and shower immediately after working in the yard.

Figure Out a Treatment Plan for Your Allergies

The truth is, though, self-care measures and preventive strategies are often not enough to ward off allergy symptoms. You may need to turn to allergy medications to do the trick. No problem: There's an arsenal of drugs available both over-the-counter or by prescription designed to do the job. These include:

Antihistamines These oral allergy medications and nasal sprays relieve symptoms such as itchy eyes, sneezing, and runny nose. They're usually more useful if you use them before you're exposed to allergens. Over-the-counter antihistamines include Benadryl and Claritin. Prescription antihistamines include Allegra, Zyrtec, and the nasal spray Astelin. Some antihistamines can cause drowsiness or a dry mouth; others are less likely to but may require a prescription. Talk with your doctor about which one might work well for you.

Decongestants Available in pill, nose spray, and nose drop form, these OTC remedies can unblock a stuffed-up nose. They're best used for a short time because they can have a rebound effect, making your clogged schnozz even worse than before you reached for something to clear congestion, says Bernstein.

Nasal corticosteroids Prescription nasal sprays such as Flonase, Rhinocort, Nasonex, and Nasacort may help those with more severe symptoms by reducing nasal tissue inflammation, though they can take a week or two before you notice any improvement. Once they kick in they're a very effective treatment, says Wasserman.

Cromolyn sodium This drug, available in a nasal spray off your drugstore shelf, helps prevent the body's reaction to allergens (though it's another medication that's more helpful if you take it prior to exposure). And, like steroid nasal sprays, it may take time before you feel its benefits.

Immunotherapy More commonly known as allergy shots or desensitization, this therapy may be necessary if allergy medications aren't able to manage your allergy symptoms or they cause significant side effects. This process requires a commitment -- initially an injection each week and then gradually each month for three to five years -- so it's usually reserved for persistent allergies that don't respond well to treatment. A less invasive immunotherapy option may be on the horizon for American allergy sufferers. "Allergy patients in Europe are already able to receive immunotherapy under their tongue, rather than via injections," says Goldsobel. "This promising therapy, currently under investigation in the U.S., is easier and less costly, but it's not a quick fix, it still takes a few years of treatment."

If one drug doesn't do the job, then a combination of allergy medications may be called for, allergy specialists such as Bernstein tell WebMD. There's a bit of trial and error involved with managing allergies, which themselves can mysteriously wax and wane, so people with allergies may need both persistence and patience to find the right regimen to whack allergy symptoms.

Have faith: Relief is out there.

SOURCES: Alan Goldsobel, MD, allergist, Allergy and Asthma Associates of Northern California, and associate clinical professor Stanford University. Stephen Wasserman, MD, allergist, professor of medicine, University of California, San Diego. Jonathan Bernstein, MD, allergist, associate professor University of Cincinnati, Ohio. AAAAI Tips Brochures, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Frequently Asked Questions About Allergies, National Jewish Medical and Research Center. "Allergy Facts and Figures" and "Indoor Air Quality and Allergies," Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. "Allergies: Things You Can Do to Control Your Symptoms," American Academy of Family Physicians. Bender, Bruce G., PhD, Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America, 2005; vol 25: pp 301-312. Blaiss, Michael S., MD, Current Medical Research and Opinions, vol 20, no12, 2004, pp 1937-1952.