Start Fall Treatment at Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia Today
As the summer starts to fade and turn into autumn, Georgia allergy sufferers face a new set of allergens to be mindful of. With so much to enjoy about this season across our state, it's essential to seek early treatment for your allergies and asthma.
Keep reading to learn how our team at Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia can help you this season:
Early Treatment for Fall Allergies
If you're one of the millions of Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies, autumn can be a beautiful yet tough time of year here in Georgia. The good news is that there are things you can do to get ahead of your allergies and minimize your symptoms, including:
- Diagnosing the specific cause of your symptoms through allergy testing.
- Seeing your Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia allergy specialist early to develop a treatment plan.
- Starting allergy medications in advance of symptom onset.
- Keeping your home and office clean.
- Tracking your local pollen count.
- Changing your clothes when you come back from a day outdoors.
Your Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia allergist will determine an appropriate treatment plan which may include allergen immunotherapy. Allergy shots or drops build a tolerance to the specific allergens that cause your symptoms allowing you to breathe better and feel better over time.
Fall Allergies & Related Conditions
Seasonal Illnesses
Seasonal allergies can cause various symptoms, often confused with the common cold, the flu, COVID-19, and other illnesses. Here are a few ways to help you determine if you're experiencing allergies or if you're sick:
- While flu, COVID-19, and allergies can all cause a stuffy and/or runny nose, allergies are more likely to also cause sneezing and itchy, watery eyes.
- Flu and COVID-19 often cause body aches and fever, allergies do not.
- While the loss of smell can come from a stuffy nose, an indicator of COVID-19 is the sudden and ongoing loss of smell.
- Cough can occur with any one of these conditions. If you are having breathing difficulty, it could be a sign of something more serious like an asthma flare, pneumonia, flu, or COVID-19. You should seek medical attention.
An accurate diagnosis by your CAAG specialist can help you avoid the anxiety of guessing the cause of your symptoms.
Sinus Infections
Untreated allergic rhinitis (allergies) can contribute to chronic sinus infections. If you have nasal allergies, allergens can cause your nasal passages to swell. A sinus infection involves swelling of the nasal passages but also swelling of the sinuses. If allergies are causing inflammation, then developing a cold or other infection may lead to a sinus infection. People with allergies and asthma are more likely to suffer from chronic sinusitis.
Early Treatment for Autumn Asthma
Autumn is a beautiful time of year, but it can be a difficult season for allergy and asthma sufferers. There are a few reasons asthma symptoms might flare up in the fall, including cooler temperatures causing your airways to constrict, being allergic to fall allergens like ragweed and mold spores, seasonal colds, and other illnesses that become more prevalent as children head back to school. If you have asthma, all of these can trigger or worsen your symptoms.
“A very high percentage of patients with asthma also have allergies that trigger their asthma symptoms. The best way to stay healthy during the season is to make sure your allergies and asthma are well controlled going into fall.”
John Vickery, M.D. – allergist Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia
How to Prepare
It's crucial to make sure your asthma is well-controlled to help prevent asthma attacks — especially with seasonal colds spreading during the fall. This is also especially important for children preparing to head back to school. Making sure you have a proper diagnosis from a Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia board-certified allergy and asthma specialist is the first step to reducing your symptoms.
In addition, you should always make sure to follow these tips:
- Take long-acting asthma medications as prescribed, even when your asthma is controlled.
- Refill all mediations prior to school start and make sure your child has access to their quick-relief inhaler.
- Wash hands frequently, eat nutritious meals, and get plenty of rest to avoid illness.
- Get a flu shot (all family members).
- See your allergist for regular asthma check-ups to maintain control. As children grow, medications may need to be adjusted.