Health Watch is a public service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.

This week on Health Watch, we've been talking about summer allergies. It may not be prime allergy time, but there are still common allergens around, and ozone can make symptoms worse. You can treat allergy symptoms with over-the-counter or prescription medications.

Dr. David Khan, an allergist at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, says allergy medicine only treats symptoms. You still will have allergies. But doctors may be able to treat the allergies themselves. Allergy shots are the most effective treatment. Over time, they can actually make you less allergic. There's also a new approach called rush immunotherapy, in which more shots are given over a shorter period of time to speed up results.  

If you suffer from allergies on an ongoing basis, talk to your doctor about treatment.

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July 2006

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