A Guide to Managing Your Autumn Allergies

Keep your hay fever, sneezing, and wheezing to a minimum so you can enjoy the beautiful cool weather with your family.

In the Baytown and Greater Houston areas, fall allergies are as much of an inevitability as humidity and mosquitoes are in the summer. The air may begin to chill, but that doesn’t stop the local flora from releasing pollen and other airborne allergens. You deserve to feel free of the itchy eyes, runny noses, and unpleasant coughs that the season brings. Luckily, there are many ways to keep healthy this time of year, so no matter how your allergies manifest, you’re likely to find a viable solution.

Allergies vs. Colds

Fall allergy season overlaps with cold season, and unfortunately the symptoms of both also overlap. You may accidentally take allergy medication and feel no relief for your cold, or vice versa. Knowing the difference between the two makes it easier to choose which course of treatment to take for maximum relief.

Allergies

Itchy eyes
Runny, stuffy nose and sneezing
Sinus swelling
May or may not involve a sore throat and cough
Symptoms occur all at once
Never involves a fever
Never involves general body aches and pains
Sometimes involves general fatigue
Clear and/or watery mucus

Colds

May or may not involve itchy eyes
Runny, stuffy nose and sneezing
Sinus swelling
Usually involves a sore throat and cough
Symptoms occur one by one
May occasionally involve a fever
Sometimes involves general body aches and pains
Sometimes involves general fatigue
Green, yellow, and/or thick mucus

For more information about parsing allergy symptoms from cold symptoms, we recommend reading the guides at Mayo Clinic, WebMD, and the National Institutes of Health.

Over-the-Counter and Home Remedies (Not Cures!)

Allergies are a miserable experience. They disrupt your work life, your office life, and they hurt while doing so. When allergy season arrives, stock up on the following items to help ensure your comfort during one of the most uncomfortable times of the year.

Before taking any over-the-counter medications or using any home remedies for allergy symptoms, talk to your doctor about possible interactions with your current prescriptions. These options are meant only to help relieve the pain of allergy symptoms. They are not intended to cure you of any underlying medical conditions. Use all over-the-counter items only as directed.

Eyes

Eye drops
Warm or cold-water washcloth compress (do not add anything else to these, as that may irritate your eyes further)
Humidifier
Reducing screen time

Nose

Nasal spray or saline spray
Medicated chest rub
Keep hydrated
Warm water washcloth or other hot compress (do not add anything else to these, as that may irritate your nose further)
Hot shower or breathing the steam off a pot of hot water (if the latter, make sure to place a towel over your head to keep the fumes circulating closer to your nose)

Throat

(Please note that a sore throat may not always be a symptom of allergies in some patients)

Cough syrup
Throat lozenges
Chrysanthemum tea
Herbal tea with lemon and honey
Saltwater gargle

In addition, a healthy diet, normal sleep schedule, and a regular exercise routine can help ease some of your symptom severity. Allergies are an immune system reaction, so keeping your immune system as strong as you are able may make a difference in how badly you react to your triggers.

Again, we reiterate that none of these remedies are intended to serve as cures for your allergies, but rather as relief for uncomfortable allergy symptoms. They do not ultimately address the root cause of the problem, which is the domain of medical professionals.

When to Consult an Allergist

If no over-the-counter drugs provide relief for your seasonal allergies and your general practitioner’s prescription options don’t work out year after year, either, it is time to seek out a specialist. Your GP will be able to provide you with a referral.

Allergists conduct comprehensive allergy tests to pinpoint your exact triggers, such as pet dander and specific pollen. From there, the allergist works with you to devise ways to prevent your triggers from going off when you’ve been exposed to them rather than treating symptoms as they pop up. You may also receive advice on or prescriptions for other courses of action to take when you do begin to experience allergy symptoms, such as antihistamines or steroids.

You may still want to consult an allergist even when you’re not sneezing and wheezing throughout the season, as the allergy tests they provide offer the most in-depth look at how your body reacts to the most common (and even a few not-so-common) allergens. Everyone can benefit from knowing how their individual physiology operates, and what allergy triggers to avoid if they want to feel their best.

Allergy-Proofing Your Home

Seasonal allergies are often exclusively associated with your outdoor activities, but you are just as susceptible to symptoms inside your home as you are outside of it. There are many different adjustments you can make to help keep you and your family feeling fine even if the air outside swirls with pollen and other triggers.

Install HEPA filters on your air conditioning system, any home air purifying systems, and vacuum cleaner
Purchase humidifiers or dehumidifiers, depending on your situation. Consult with your doctor on the ideal device for your home
Change out of and washing clothes after coming in from extended stays outside (such as yard work or running), to prevent spread
Purchase dust mite-repellant bedding and covers
Clean laundry regularly
Keep windows closed and window blinds cleaned regularly
Dust regularly (wear a mask when you do!)
Check for mold regularly and get it remediated if you find any
Shampoo your carpet regularly
Bathe pets regularly, especially when they come in from outdoors
Choose easy-to-clean furniture
Don’t burn wood indoors (sorry, fireplace enthusiasts!)
Place aquarium gravel in potted plants to prevent mold
Place plants outside if possible
Install an exhaust fan over the stove
Eat or otherwise preserve food quickly so it doesn’t mold in the fridge
Check your attic insulation and sinks regularly to ensure no mold is growing
Clean up any water damage immediately to prevent mold

You may not need to take all of these steps when preventing allergy issues in your home, of course. Pick and choose the ones that best apply to your situation, and remember that simply maintaining a clean home still goes a long way in providing allergy relief.

Recognizing Allergies in Your Children

The signs of seasonal allergies in children parallel the signs of seasonal allergies in adults, although your child’s symptoms may seem worse than those of an adult’s due to their size.

Observe how your children interact with their own faces. They will likely try to scratch their itchy eyes and rub their noses raw in an attempt to alleviate their pain, which is a major sign that they may be suffering from allergies. Some children may even develop a noticeable crease along the top of their nose from rubbing it up so much. If you notice these signs and symptoms, consult with your pediatrician about which over-the-counter drugs are safe for them to consume, then schedule an appointment to receive a definitive diagnosis and course of treatment.

Kids benefit from seeing allergy specialists, too, especially if they have asthma compounding their respiratory distress.

Baytown and Houston Pollen Tracking

Local pollen trackers help you stay on top of avoiding your allergy triggers whenever possible. A subtropical climate like Baytown’s and Houston’s plays host to a wide range of allergens throughout the year. The following trackers make sure you’re prepared with information you need to know, which supplies to keep on hand, and preventative measures to take:

Helping You Fight Allergies this Fall

Autumn is a time for apple cider and carving pumpkins, not itching and sneezing your way through the season. At patients ER, we want you and your family to breathe free and delight in the pleasing coolness in the air and comfortingly cinnamony, clovey, and nutmeggy tastes on your table. If you have any further questions about avoiding allergies and generally staying safe and healthy during the fall, we invite you to please contact us.