No one likes dealing with allergies, but in fact studies have shown that one in every five people are allergic to something, and that a vast majority of those suffering are doing so due to the environment, either the one found inside your home or the one found outside. When allergy season hits, people flock to the drug store searching for allergy medication. However, with a few allergy health tips from Ask-the-Dr you may be able to make this season fly by with ease.

Tip 1: Are Allergies It Really the Problem?

Many times people believe that they are allergic to something when, in fact, they may not be. There are many viruses that can mimic the symptoms of this condition. As a good rule of thumb, and as any online doctor professional will tell you, don’t automatically assume that you’re allergic to something. If your congestion lasts for a few weeks, if you have thin and clear mucus, and if your symptoms worsen after you are exposed to the supposed allergen, your symptoms are likely from this frustrating condition.

Tip 2: Keeping Clean

There is no way to avoid going outside, which means that you will have to deal with allergen triggers eventually, but you can make your house a safe zone by keeping it clean. One thing you may not learn from over-the-phone medical advice is that you should remove your clothing when you get home. Take off your shoes and put them in a closet, change your clothes and, if possible, shower. If you have animals it’s a good idea to wipe them down, especially their paws, before they come inside the house as well. This keeps the pollen outside and makes your home much more comfortable to live in during that time of year.

Tip 3: The Right Medication

An online doctor can tell you that you should go to the pharmacy for allergy relief, but what type of medication should you get? Unfortunately you may need to experiment with different types of medications as each person’s metabolism is different. Try switching brands and, if you find no relief, try another. While an online medical consultation may be a huge help, if you are finding no relief from your symptoms using over-the-counter medications, you may want to visit an allergen specialist.

If you are having a difficult time figuring out if you are truly allergic to something, or what type of medication for allergies you should try, Ask-the-Dr can help. Give us a call at 888-448-7633 and we can help to determine if you are suffering from this condition as well as give more tips about how to make dealing with your condition much more comfortable.