Lehigh County Health & Medicine Spring 2020 - 9

L C M E D S O C .O R G

prevent symptoms from compounding and
becoming more difficult to treat.

* Decongestant sprays are only meant to be
used for a few days and are not appropriate
for pre-treatment. Decongestant pills may be
used to prevent nasal congestion, but they
are not safe for individuals with hypertension
or heart problems.

THERE ARE SOME RULES TO
FOLLOW WHEN PRE-TREATING
SEASONAL ALLERGIES:
* Mometasone furoate (Nasonex) or fluticasone propionate (Flonase) are nasal steroid ONCE THE ALLERGY SEASON STARTS,
sprays that can be used in advance. These HERE ARE A FEW STEPS TO MINIMIZE
medications treat more allergy symptoms YOUR SYMPTOMS:
than other drug classes, but they take a
* Saline nasal irrigation/lavage can help
month to reach full effectiveness. Begin using keep the nasal passages open, reduce post
nasal steroid spray once daily beginning one nasal drip and flush out pollens, mucous and
month prior to allergy season.
debris. Lavage is performed in the comfort
of your home and is well tolerated with
* Oral antihistamines or antihistamine minimal side effects.
sprays or drops may also be used in advance,
though they are not as effective as steroid
* To minimize exposure to spring time
sprays. Some antihistamines can cause pollens, it is best to keep the windows
drowsiness, making them a poor option for closed and keep the air conditioner on the
older adults at risk of falls.
"recirculate" setting. The "filter-only" setting
can be used if it is not hot outside.

* Pollens can be tracked from the outside
into your home from your shoes, clothes, hair
and pets, so keep them clean. Washing your
hair prior to laying down on your pillow for
the night can be helpful. Avoid drying your
laundry outside on a clothesline during the
pollen season.
There are several treatment options that
can help keep your allergy symptoms under
control. Schedule an appointment with your
doctor to discuss different therapies and
develop a complete treatment plan that's
right for you. Taking preventive steps now
will keep you breathing easy all season long
(Source: Harvard Health).
Dr. Andrew Pestcoe is a board certified Otorhinolaryngologist(ENT), who has treated allergies and diseases of
the Ears, Nose and Throat for the past 30 years in the
Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania area .

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Lehigh County Health & Medicine Spring 2020

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