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 outdoor summer dangers such as snake and bug bites, pollen and allergies. You can control some of your exposure to summer allergens, but there are times you may need medication.
Antihistamines help fight allergy symptoms such as sniffling, sneezing, and itching and watery eyes. They can also ease some of the pain, itching and swelling of bug bites. Decongestants help ease stuffiness. Avoid decongestant nose sprays because those may end up making nasal passages swell even more. Dr. David Khan, an allergy expert at UT Southwestern Medical Center, suggests starting with over-the-counter allergy medicines to see if you can find one that works for you without causing side effects like drowsiness that interfere with your life. If you still don’t get relief, see your doctor, who may be able to find a prescription allergy medicine that helps your symptoms.
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July 2007
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