Save Yourself the Sneezes
Seasonal allergies strike year-round. Talk to your doctor about the best solution for you.
It’s not a cold. It’s not the flu. It’s seasonal allergies, brought to you by the beautiful weather, winds and foliage of the South Bay. While bugs and viruses plague the nose and throat for a week or two, seasonal allergies can last for weeks and months. Some find spring sets off their sinuses; others suffer during the winter months when the house gets stuffy. To make seasonal allergy season much less sneezy, Yuan Liu, MD, a Torrance Memorial Physician Network ear, nose and throat specialist, recommends over-the-counter meds including sinus sprays, a few simple changes around the house and possibly allergy testing.
Reducing allergy symptoms with lifestyle changes
First, identify the allergen. Different avoidance measures work for different allergens.
For indoor allergies like dust mites, use an air purifier, wash bedding regularly, and get rid of carpets and rugs.
For outdoor allergies, keep allergens out by closing windows and run an air purifier in the house.
When outdoors, a well-sealed mask can be very helpful.
In addition, rinsing with a gentle saline solution can clear allergens and decrease inflammation in the nasal passages.
Q: What are the common triggers and patterns of seasonal allergies, specifically in the South Bay?
A: Indoor and outdoor allergens are present during every season. The most common outdoor allergens in our area include olive, oak, eucalyptus and walnut trees. Typically during the spring pollen season, these allergens are the culprits. During the summer months, grasses—including Bermuda, blue and rye—can cause allergies. Weeds such as ragweed and sagebrush can cause allergies in the fall. Indoor allergens such as dust mites, dogs, cats, cockroaches and mold affect people year-round. Windy days, especially in December and January during peak Santa Ana wind season, can worsen allergies due to the spread of allergens.
Q: How can individuals tell the difference between allergies, colds and infections?
A: Allergies typically cause a runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, and sneezing, but colds from viruses (the most common) or bacteria usually cause a runny nose with throat pain, fatigue, headaches and sometimes muscle aches. Colds get worse and then better over the course of one to three weeks, whereas allergies can last a day or go on daily and indefinitely, as long as the allergens are present.
Q: What over-the-counter treatments work best, and when should a patient consider prescription options or allergy testing?
A: For minor allergy symptoms, a saltwater rinse can clear the sinuses of allergens and mucus. Flonase or other nasal steroid sprays are generally effective and have minimal side effects. Over-the-counter oral antihistamines are helpful as well but are generally less effective than nasal sprays. Allergy testing is reserved for those who cannot tolerate nasal sprays or do not find them effective.
Q: How can patients manage more severe or persistent allergies, including those affecting sleep, asthma or sinus health?
A: Severe allergies require allergy testing. Various tests can help identify the exact allergens—whether it's weeds, trees, grass, pollen, pet dander and so on—that trigger allergic reactions. Then the allergy treatment plan created is specific to the patient. Treatment can include daily steroid use (usually with sprays and rinses) or allergy shots. And sometimes inhalers are needed to control asthma symptoms.
Q: When is it important to see a doctor, and what allergy services or specialists are available through Torrance Memorial Physician Network?
A: If over-the-counter antihistamines and nasal sprays are not helping or there are severe symptoms such as nasal blockage, facial pressure and nasal drainage, then it’s a good time to see a doctor. We have five ear, nose and throat specialists who can help, and we can usually see patients within a week, if not sooner.
Yuan Liu, MD, practices at Torrance Memorial Physician Network ENT at 23650 Crenshaw Blvd., Suite 100 in Torrance. He can be reached at 310-891-6733.
