CHRISTUS Healthcare provides tips for managing spring allergies

Shreveport, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — Spring has officially arrived, and to help people relieve some of their symptoms, CHRISTUS Health is providing some tips for managing allergies this season.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 25% of Americans, or about 80 million people, suffer from seasonal allergies. Dr. Sydney Saldino, a family medicine physician with CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic, said that allergy symptoms can persist year-round, depending on where you live. She noted that taking a proactive approach is key to managing symptoms before they worsen.

Saldino recommends starting an antihistamine such as Claratin, Allegra, or Zyrtec early in allergy season. She also suggested rotating between different allergy medications every three months to prevent the immune system from building a tolerance. “One of the biggest challenges we see is distinguishing between allergy symptoms and a cold, as they share congestion, sneezing, itchy throat and a runny nose,” Saldino said. “The key difference is a cold usually includes a fever and resolves in a few days, whereas allergy symptoms can persist much longer.”

For milder symptoms, Saldino suggests over-the-counter remedies such as nasal corticosteroids, saline rinses, local honey, and decongestants.