Sneezing, Runny Nose and Watery Eyes Should be no Surprise - Even in the Fall

By Martin A. David martin.david@hqpublications.com Pharmavita Columnist October 11, 2004

As the sun sets slowly over the summer, lots of people are saying a fond farewell to their summer grass allergies. Not so fast friend. The pollen count may have dropped, and hay fever may have gone away with spring and summer, but ask any sufferer—allergy is one of nature’s year-round gifts.

Not all allergy symptoms involve sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes. Allergens—the awful things we’re allergic to—cover a wide spectrum and the symptoms may vary.

Doctors have found a strong connection between asthma attacks and allergy. That annoying, constant cough may be allergen induced. Allergic reactions may also include hives and other rashes. In fact, there are probably as many cases of skin allergy as there are of allergic rhinitis (that’s a fancy term for Ahhh-CHOO!)

The Causes of Allergies

Allergy attacks may be triggered by dust, pollen, pet dander, particular foods, and much more. There are sophisticated allergy testing procedures to discover your specific trigger substance.

Once you realize that your symptoms are caused by an allergy, you can ask your doctor to administer an allergy test. The doctor can determine the seriousness of the allergy and the kind of allergy treatment to initiate.

Some solutions are simple. If you discover the cause of your hives, you just avoid that allergen. However, most allergies require stronger allergy treatments such as allergy shots or allergy medicines. Fortunately, there are a number of allergy products such as fexofenadine, a histamine blocker, and Zyrtec, an over-the-counter medication that blocks both indoor and outdoor allergies.

There was a time when people who suffered from allergies just suffered. You could recognize them by their red, watery eyes and their sad expressions. Aren’t you glad you live in a time when allergy relief is so easy to find?


About the Author
Martin A. David consults as a Senior Technical Writer for a number of Silicon Valley firms. He is also a translator, specializing in Danish, French and Spanish literary works. He has written numerous feature articles for publications including the Los Angeles Times. He has also published a novel, and a non-fiction book in the area of dance. Martin earned his B.A. in Liberal Arts from Brooklyn College in his native New York. He currently chairs the Santa Clara Cultural Advisory Commission in Santa Clara, California.