Flonase

About 35 million of us get hit with hay fever each year, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and immunology, and it can be pretty debilitating. In fact the organization found in a recent study that half of allergy sufferers considered the condition to be serious, and 94 percent said it hurt everything from their productivity to their sex drive. You don't have to let pollen knock you out for the count. Here's how you can sail through spring.

Prescription for relief

With all the allergy products on the market, finding the right treatment can be confusing. What's the easiest way to navigate your pharmacy aisles? Let your symptoms be your guide:

If you have: nasal woes (stuffiness, sneezing, a runny nose)

Try: corticosteroids, like Flonase, which you can get without a prescription as a nasal spray or inhaler. They block inflammation and reduce swelling and nasal irritation. Most have minimal side effects, although they can cause nosebleeds.

If you have: itchy eyes and/or runny nose, and sneezing

Try: an antihistamine, which blocks the effects of histamine, a chemical the body releases when it overreacts to allergens. Your doctor can prescribe one or you can buy an over-the-counter product from your local store. But antihistamines sold over-the-counter usually contain ingredients that cause drowsiness, which can be dangerous if you drive. If you need to stay alert, ask your doctor for a nonsedating antihistamine or opt for Claritin, which is now available without prescription.

If you have: red or swollen eyes

Try: a cold eye compress for quick relief or bathe your eyes with saline solution to wash away irritants. You can also buy over-the-counter antihistamine eye drops, but using these products for longer than a few days may actually make the inflammation worse.

If you have: sinus or nasal congestion

Try: a decongestant, which shrinks swollen nasal tissues and blood vessels to relieve congestion. But be sure to follow the directions on the package. Using a decongestant longer than recommended can worsen the condition. (Skip it altogether if you have high blood pressure or heart problems, because it can aggravate those conditions.) Some allergy medicines like Sudafed combine an antihistamine and a decongestant, which will help if your congestion comes with other symptoms.

An ounce of prevention

Allergies are a result of the immune system overreacting to normally harmless things like trees, grass and pollen, and then triggering symptoms such as itchy eyes and nasal congest on. The following tips will help you reduce the odds of an attack or find relief if you're already in the midst of one:

1. Minimize your time outside on breezy days when pollen is more easily scattered by the wind, and on days when pollen counts are high. Get the pollen count for your town from the National Allergy Bureau site, aaaai.org/nab. Peak pollen times are usually between 2:00 and 4:00 P.M.

2. Shower and change after you've been outside. clothes--can be pollen magnets--so you don't track the stuff around your house.

3. Keep your windows closed at night.

4. Eat very spicy foods for temporary relief of nasal congestion. According to Warren Filley, M.D., an allergist at the Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma Clinic, pepperS contain a histamine-releasing chemical--which is why your eyes water and your nose runs after a Cajun meal. Some doctors believe that eating peppers helps deplete the histamine in the body, so when you encounter an allergen, your reaction won't be as bad.

5. Use air conditioning, which filters most pollen, and a dehumidifier to clean the air.

taking your best shot at allergies

So you've tried just about everything for allergy relief and nothing has worked. Don't give up hope yet. You may want to try immunotherapy, a kind of vaccine shot for allergies. Doctors use it for severe cases or those unresponsive to conventional treatment. Here's how it works: You're injected with small amounts of an allergen over three to five years, until you become immune to it. Paul V. Williams, M.D., an allergist for Seattle's Northwest Asthma & Allergy Center says the sessions are weekly for about six months, and every three to four weeks thereafter. Though it can mean a hefty time commitment, immunotherapy succeeds in 90 percent of cases and gives relief for five to ten years. Ask your doctor if this is an option for you.

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