One of the nation’s top allergy experts explains how to control and treat spring allergies this year:
#5 Treat Allergies Early
Spring pollen season starts much earlier than many people think. This means that if you take medications to control your seasonal allergies, the time to start them is mid- to late-February, not late March. By starting your medications early, you’re less likely to have a “snowball effect” (pun intended) with your symptoms.
#4 Know Your OTC Allergy Medications
Three main kinds of over-the-counter (OTC) medications are used to help control seasonal allergies: topical nasal sprays, inhaled corticosteroids, and antihistamines; oral antihistamines; and decongestants.
#3 Control Allergies by Controlling Your Environment
You don’t want to have to stay indoors on a beautiful day just because you have allergies. But if you’re going to be working outside, consider wearing a protective allergy face mask for tasks like mowing the grass, raking leaves, or washing the car.
#2 Natural Allergy Remedies
Some natural remedies do help with allergy symptoms, but keep in mind that they have their limits. One popular tool is the neti pot, which flushes out your nasal cavities by using gravity to rinse them with a saline solution. Studies show that neti pots are effective for minimizing seasonal allergy symptoms.
#1 Leave it to a Professional: See an Allergist for Allergies
An allergist will help you determine precisely what you’re allergic to by discussing your symptoms and doing tests, which involve exposing you to a small amount of an allergen through a skin abrasion to see if you react. Allergists can also test for antibodies in your blood that can signal the presence of allergies. Your allergist might ask you to keep an “allergy diary,” tracking when and where you have allergic reactions.
Dr. Mariana Marcu Allergy Doctor in NYC
NYC based Mariana Marcu, M.D., FAAAAI, is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. She completed her residency at NYHQ–New York–Presbyterian Healthcare System and continued there as chief medical resident for an additional year. Her Allergy, Asthma & Immunology fellowship was completed at North Shore–LIJ Health System, which was previously located at Schneider Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Marcu is a fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI). She is also a member of the New York Allergy & Asthma Society (NYAAS) and the World Allergy Organization (WAO).
With more than 15 years of clinical experience in NYC, Dr. Marcu specializes in skin allergic conditions, asthma, allergy immunotherapy for seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis along with insect venom allergies, and food and drug oral challenges. She conducts state-of-the-art testing and manages patients’ treatment in her two offices, which are conveniently located in midtown Manhattan and SoHo.
To keep up to date with the latest scientific developments, Dr. Marcu participates in the annual meetings of the American Academy and College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology along with other international lectures and conferences in the field.
