Sneezing, Sniffling, Coughing, Oh My!

It’s that time of year again...School is back in session, the weather is turning cooler, and the sound of sneezing, sniffling, and coughing fill the air. While many of you might assume these symptoms you’re experiencing are due to a cold, they might be signs of an allergy.

Let me explain. With autumn rapidly approaching, the dreaded ragweed plant is releasing its pollen into the environment. Ragweed is the main culprit for triggering a late summer/early Fall allergy, commonly known as hay fever. But it’s not just ragweed- mold spores, dust, and dander have been causing havoc in allergy sufferers, too.

While both colds and allergies share similar symptoms, such as sneezing, coughing, runny nose, mild fatigue, and occasionally a sore throat, if you are also experiencing itchy eyes, you are most likely dealing with an allergy. However, if a fever appears along with those other symptoms, you are likely dealing with a cold.

Another clue that you might be experiencing an allergy rather than a cold is that allergy symptoms tend to come on suddenly and will last until the allergic trigger is removed. With a cold, the symptoms are finite, lasting anywhere from 3-14 days. The time of year might also point to the diagnosis of an allergy.

So you think you have an allergy, now what?

There are many options available for treating allergies ranging from over-the-counter antihistamines, decongestants, and allergy shots to more natural, holistic approaches. As a naturopathic physician, I always begin with the latter.

When I see patients in my office complaining of seasonal allergies, the first step is to identify which allergen is causing their symptoms. Once the allergen is identified, a variety of natural substances, such as herbs and supplements known to stabilize mast cells, might be prescribed. In case you’re wondering, mast cells are a type of white blood cell responsible for releasing histamine, the substance that causes your body to mount an allergic response. Mast cell stabilizers such as quercetin, resveratrol, curcumin, and components found in green tea, just to name a few, help stop the release of histamine. Other options might include substances that break down histamine like diamine oxidase, which is found in Vitamin C. However, since not all natural substances are safe, you should always check with your doctor to determine which products are best-suited to your or your child’s unique health condition.

I’ve also had much success in treating patients of all ages with homeopathic sublingual allergy drops that gently desensitize your body to specific allergens. These drops, which are placed directly under your tongue, are a safe, convenient, and cost-effective method of quickly reducing your symptoms.

Let’s say we determine the cause of your allergy to be ragweed pollen. The next step is to look for food triggers.

Certain foods contain proteins, which are similar to the proteins found in ragweed pollen. Consuming these foods during ragweed season can worsen symptoms. Some possible food triggers include: bananas, chamomile tea, melons, and sunflower seeds. By avoiding these foods, symptoms can be lessened in certain individuals. However, it’s important to understand that the above list is only a partial list that has been given to illustrate a point. There are other foods that cross-react with ragweed and with other types of pollen, too.

Things you can do at home.

Simple ways to reduce your hay fever symptoms include changing your clothing and washing your hands after you’ve been outside. This will help remove pollen that has settled on your body. While changing clothes during the day might not be convenient for most, removing pollen by taking a shower (and washing your hair) before heading off to bed will help reduce nighttime congestion. As an aside, nighttime showering is also a great way to wash away any non-attached ticks that you or your child might have picked up during the day.

You might also consider using an air purifier to help remove allergens from within your home environment. And don’t forget about your pets. Our furry friends should be bathed more frequently during allergy season to help remove the pollen they’ve picked up while outside. It’s all about reducing pollen levels inside your home. But check with your vet to determine how often your pet should be bathed.

As you can see, that “cold” you or your child might be experiencing might not be a cold after all. The good news is that there are several treatment options available for allergy-sufferers who prefer a more natural approach. For those of you hoping for more information on colds and flu, stay tuned for Part 2, or call our office to make an appointment at 860-308-1635.

Dr. Lesa Werner, is a licensed Naturopathic Physician currently practicing in West Hartford, CT www.drlesawerner.com

Disclaimer: The above information is for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose nor treat any medical condition. Please contact your physician for appropriate medical care.