By: Lauren McRae

If you are an allergy sufferer, you should start building your defense against pollens and other spring and summer allergens now.

NorthShore allergist Ewa Schafer, MD, said, “Anti-inflammatory medications will prevent the inflammation and swelling that allergies cause, and help minimize symptoms. We don’t want to play catch-up with allergies. Patients who wait might have to use higher dosages or add medications to control their symptoms later on.”

Here are tips Dr. Schafer said will help control symptoms:

• For patients who use intranasal corticosteroids, such as Flonase, Nasonex, Rhinocort, it is best to start a few weeks prior to the start of your allergy season. If you know you get tree pollen symptoms, you should start your nose spray now.
• Have your Neti pot available and start using it as soon as you experience symptoms.
• Have your antihistamines, an example is Allegra, available to start if and when needed.
• For pollen sufferers, keep your bedroom windows closed. If you need to get a fan out of storage, get it now.
• Start adding a shower at the end of the day, which is especially good for kids with allergies because they are outside playing for long periods of time. In addition to showering, use your nasal wash at the end of the day to remove any allergens.