Get Started with Allergy Care

Sneezing, runny nose, congestion, itchy eyes, nose, and throat, post-nasal drainage, eczema, hives, chest tightness, wheezing - these are some of the symptoms related to allergies. Usually by working with all three approaches (avoidance, medications, and allergy desensitization shots) symptoms caused by pollen allergies may be minimized or hardly noticed at all.

Pollens blow indoors and become dusts causing both seasonal and perennial allergies. Control of pollen allergies requires attempts to minimize pollen exposure, medication use, and frequently immunotherapy or allergy shots. Pollen counts are so high in the Rogue Valley that medications and allergy shots can cope with most but not all of the allergic reaction caused by pollen exposure. Therefore, allergic individuals should reduce their pollen exposure as much as possible whether or not medications and allergy shots are being used.

The single most important measure to reduce symptoms caused by pollen allergies is to keep the inside of your home pollen free. We spend a great deal of time (sleeping, etc.) inside of our homes and by keeping windows and doors closed we can take advantage of this time to reduce our pllen exposure. For most people this necessitates AIR CONDITIONING. Central air conditioning is best but a room air conditioner in the bedroom is almost as good. Try to keep the bedroom or home closed to the outside for the entire pollen season. Just sleeping in a room that is never open to the outside will reduce overall pollen exposure 30-40%. If these measures are coupled with work in an air conditioned environment, the reduction in pollen exposure can be dramatic.

If at all possible AVOID HIGH EXPOSURES to pollens such as tree trimming or pruning in the tree pollen season, lawn mowing, working with hay, weed cutting, hiking through fields of tall grasses and weeds, camping in meadows etc. Using weed eaters can cause especially high exposures. Rinsing your nose with saline sprays such as Ocean can help remove pollens from nasal tissues. Washing your face with a soapy washcloth can help remove pollens from around the eyes. Glasses (or even protective goggles) help reduce pollen contact with the eyes. Pollen masks may be helpful during mowing and weed eating. One episode of intense pollen exposure can cause recurrent symptoms for days even in the absence of further exposure, so be careful with heavy exposures if you can.

Please visit our "care info" which will give you list of links to more detailed information on pollen allergies, mold avoidance. environmental control which includes great information about how to control dust mites in your home, immunotherapy ("allergy shots"), antihistamines and decongestants, nasal washes, and much more!