It is the best season for you. The sun is shining and sky is bright. It is just perfect to spend time outdoors having a picnic at the park, walking under the shade of trees, and chasing butterflies. Nothing can stop you and the joy that you're feeling. Well, not absolutely nothing because you suddenly sneeze and your eyes begin to redden and water. You find out that you're allergic to pollen and grass. You may have seasonal allergy.

Seasonal allergy is a form of hypersensitivity where the allergen is present in huge quantities during a specific season, usually spring, summer or fall. People suffering from this disorder usually have red and itchy eyes, sneeze, cough, have difficulty breathing, and experience runny nose. They may also be irritable and depressed at times, and may be heard complaining about an itchy throat. Depending on the season and the intensity of the allergy, some suffer loss of appetite, headaches, and insomnia.

This type of allergy is usually alleviated with the use of over the counter medications. Usually, the use of antihistamines is the first option. Antihistamines suppress swelling and vasodilatation which cause the signs and symptoms seen in an allergic person. Benadryl is one of the most common antihistamines. However, this drug has side effects such as drowsiness and light-headedness. It is important to remember that when taking this drug, the person must refrain from driving or working with machines.

Nowadays, antihistamines which are anti-drowsy are also available in the market. They can be taken anytime of the day, even while working since it does not make one sleepy or light-headed. Ceterizine and Loratadine are the common drugs under anti-drowsy antihistamines. For people with decongestion, nasal decongestants are also available. This drug lessens the swelling of the nasal membranes, helping the person in breathing normally. Yet this drug must not be used continuously for a long time since it can have a rebound effect when the intake is immediately stopped. A rebound effect is usually characterized by worsened symptoms when our body has become dependent on the drug for relief and we suddenly discontinue the use of the drug. It also makes one feel drowsy. Another treatment is getting an allergy shot. This is given to people who are not comfortable with the use of over the counter medications and develop worse symptoms during episodes of seasonal allergy, such as asthma.

Since people react differently to various allergens, you can ask your physician about undergoing skin testing to diagnose allergies properly. Skin testing is less expensive than blood tests and uses samples of suspected allergens in order to test which allergen is most likely you are going to have an inflammatory reaction to. Seasonal allergy may be taken for granted but an untreated allergy can lead to asthma or other life-threatening conditions. We must be equipped with the awareness of which specific type of allergen can have an effect on us. With this knowledge, we will be able to prevent and still enjoy an allergic-free lifestyle.