Know your enemy for the coming allergy season

As many people are wondering how much snow Chattanooga will see this winter, we cannot overlook the coming allergy season that will be here before we know it. Dr. Todd Levin at Chattanooga Allergy Clinic said that if you have taken a medication holiday for your allergies, now is the time to get them going again so your body can be prepared.

Dr. Todd Levin of Chattanooga Allergy Clinic helps patients overcome seasonal allergies.

"You certainly want to have everything started again by early February," he noted. "If you see an allergist, do that, and if you've never seen one, it's important to get in and start getting tested, especially if you have noticeable symptoms."

Reputable studies show that if patients begin medications during the preseason, they are way ahead of the game in terms of lessening the severity of their symptoms.

Allergists and allergy testing can help determine what is going on with your body and the best course of treatment. Levin said that allergy shots, or immunotherapy, are a great natural option to help cure patients of allergies, while medications and nasal sprays are good ways to help alleviate symptoms.

"With the medications, they do help with decreasing inflammation, but they only act as a bandage and don't remove the problem," he said.

Most insurance plans cover the shots since they are considered a preventative therapy or medicine. However, some people may not be good candidates for allergy shots, and there are other options of treatment available for the patients who have trouble with pollen and other allergens coming this season.

During this time of year, many people struggle to determine if they are experiencing allergies or a case of the common cold. Typically allergies are longer lasting, going on for weeks, whereas a cold lasts around seven to 10 days. The symptoms can also be confusing to distinguish; while both begin with clear drainage, drainage from a cold becomes cloudier, he said.

"Allergies also present themselves with more itchiness," Levin said. "Itchy and red eyes, itchy nose and throat are red flags, along with post nasal drip causing coughing."

The common cold and viral illnesses along with the violent weather change Chattanooga experiences this time of year can also really set off asthma, Levin added.

The top trigger for asthma flare-ups is exposure to colds and viral illnesses. For patients younger than age 3, respiratory syncytial virus is the big problem, while older patients battle more with the common cold.

Weather changes are also very problematic this time of year. An extreme change in temperature can cause vasomotor rhinitis, an inflammation of membranes inside the nose. Going from a temperature of 70 degrees inside to 30 degrees outside can make patients congested or cause chronic drips, said Levin.

"To avoid this issue, always be more cautious with good hand washing and general hygiene, and once the pollen season starts to hit, don't wear shoes inside the house and wash your hair at night so you're not bringing pollen in," he said.

As pollen counts are lower at night and in the evening, Levin also advised that evenings are a better time to exercise outdoors.

Noteworthy:

"You certainly want to have everything started again by early February," he noted. "If you see an allergist, do that, and if you've never seen one, it's important to get in and start getting tested, especially if you have noticeable symptoms."