If you have had the sniffles, itchy eyes, and some general problems sleeping lately, you are not alone.
The end of summer and beginning of fall is prime season for a number of seasonal allergies, including one of the most common, ragweed. This summer has been especially bad for ragweed, with warm wet conditions leading to ideal growing conditions for the weed.
Although the Marshall County Department of Public Health does not get many calls about allergies, Public Heath Nurse Pat Thompson understands it can be a real problem for many.
"There are a number of things a person can do to relieve symptoms," she said. "Certainly, first you want to contact your health care provider to determine if that is what you really have."
Once you have been diagnosed with an allergy problem, the next step is determining the most appropriate course of treatment for the specific allergen you have, according to Dr. Jay Brown, an allergist with McFarland Clinic.
"For the ragweed sufferer, they could expect some relief by the beginning of October even if they do nothing," he said.
By then, the plant has stopped pollinating and is beginning to go dormant.
Brown said cetirizine, a medication now available over the counter and sold as the brand name Zyrtec, is a very good drug for seasonal allergy sufferers.
Fluticasone, a medication in the form of a nasal spray commonly sold under the brand name Flonase, is another good option, but is only available by prescription, Brown said.
"I tend to advise against taking some of the over-the-counter nasal sprays," Brown said. "Those can be addictive to some people."
The only problem with fluticasone is that it takes dedication.
"It must be used every day to be effective" Brown said.
For those who are more suffer more seriously or find these other options do not help, allergy shots are also a possibility. But even that can be more difficult than many people think.
"The problem isn't that you just get one shot. You get a whole series of shots," Brown said.
Those shots are administered very frequently during the first six months, then monthly thereafter.
For some people, the best option may not be in medication, but in lifestyle changes.
"Avoidance is a good way to deal with allergies," Brown said. "If you suffer from pollens, close your windows and use air conditioning."
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Contact Ken Black at 641-753-6611 or kblack@timesrepublican.com