As summer continues to fade and we turn our attention to fall, seasonal allergies are also entering a peak time. Dr. Mary Keating is a Pediatric Allergist at CentraCare Health and says once we hit mid-August, pollen and mold start to become more of a problem.
Keating says lake water allergies also tend to be worse this time of year. She says if you know you’ll be swimming or doing water sports, you can take preventive actions.
“The nasal sprays, the corticosteroid sprays…we say start those up a good week ahead of time. Get your nasal passages prepared. And the antihistamines can be a couple of days a head of time. The key is to try to prevent the inflammation from developing.”
Allergies are generally around until the first few hard frosts of the season.
Symptoms of seasonal allergies include itchy eyes, sneezing, and runny or stuffy nose. Dr. Keating says most allergies can be treated with over-the-counter medications, but if that doesn’t help, you should see a doctor for relief.