It’s that time of year when seasonal allergies are kicking in. Find out how our doctors can diagnose your allergies and help you control them.
Symptoms of seasonal allergies
Most Common: sneezing, stuffy or runny nose, itchy or teary eyes
Less common symptoms: post nasal drip, cough, sore or itchy throat, itchy ears, headache, hives, irritability, fatigue
Causes for seasonal allergies
Seasonal allergies are typically caused by environmental allergens such as pollen, grasses, weeds, or mold spores. When people with seasonal allergies breathe in the allergens their immune system sees it as a threat which causes the above symptoms.
How we diagnose allergies
Our doctors will take a thorough history of your health and walk you through a self-directed exam to decide if your symptoms are more related to allergies or if there is another cause.
Our doctors can distinguish the symptoms by timing of year and how often you experience the symptoms.
How we can help treat your seasonal allergies
Our doctors can help recommend both over the counter and prescription medications such as antihistamines, decongestants, inhalers, or eye drops. They can also help decide if a more aggressive allergy treatment is necessary and when you should be seen for allergy testing.
Natural remedies to help with seasonal allergies
There are also natural remedies you can try at home such as:
- Nasal rinses
- Essential Oils — peppermint, eucalyptus, lemon, lavender
- Vitamin C
- Dehumidifiers
- Changing home filters regularly
- Keeping windows closed
About the author
Dr. Jeanette Carpenter is board certified in Family Medicine and practices in Virginia. She graduated from The College of William and Mary in 2000 with a B.S. in Chemistry and a minor in Dance. In 2004, she earned her M.D. degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and then went on to complete her residency at VCU’s Chesterfield Family Practice Residency Program, where she served as Chief Resident. She has an interest in preventative medicine and holistic medicine and has a certification in plant based nutrition from eCornell. She believes stress and lifestyle impacts the disease process and spends extra time educating patients on lifestyle modifications that can improve their overall health.
