Pollen In North Carolina: Best Allergy Medicine And Treatment That Really Work

Allergy sufferers in North Carolina are having a difficult time after a yellowish green haze suddenly covered the area, made entirely of pollen. The amount per cubic meter recorded is reportedly the highest so far for 2019, though residents say it is not an unusual occurrence.

According to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, the official pollen count for the April 9 occurrence was 1,778.8 grains per cubic meter in Raleigh. The location ranks fifth in the country in terms of severity, with Tulsa (Oklahoma) leading the list, followed by Waco (Texas), Springfield (New Jersey) and Georgetown (Texas). The blanket of pollen came from the trees, including oak, birch, pine, mulberry and sweet gum.

Asthma and hay fever affects all age groups and is reported in over 24 million in the United States, over six million among whom are children. Common symptoms of allergic rhinitis, which can be caused by pollen allergy, include watery eyes, sneezing, stuffing and runny nose, and itching. If you live areas where pollen hazes are a normal occurrence, you can find a way to manage possible allergy attacks and make the experience more bearable.

While there is no cure for allergy, there are ways to manage it. Here are some of the best allergy medicines and treatment that have proven to be effective.

1. Immunotherapy

Depending on your doctor’s advice, allergy shots are usually given once or two times per week for a few months, initially. It is administered on the upper arm and starts with a small dose of whatever you’re allergic to, and then goes up slowly until you reach a “maintenance dose.” This can go on to once a month for three to five years, during which time your allergic reactions will reduce or disappear.

Immunotherapy is usually given if your symptoms persist even after over three months per year and medicines don’t provide relief.

2. Antihistamines

Antihistamines in the form of tablets, syrups, drops and sprays are the most common interventions to allergies, most of which are available over the counter. These include generic names cetirizine, levocetirizine, chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, ketotifen and brompheniramine among others. Prescription medications such as desloratadine, azelastine nasal and olopatadine ophthalmic are also given for certain cases.

Antihistamines work by triggering the immune system to prevent the mentioned symptoms. Typical side effects of the older drugs include drowsiness, though some of the modern versions already have non-sedating qualities. It is important to consult your physician first for the best type of antihistamine for specific types of allergies, so you do not under- or over-medicate.

3. Nasal treatments

Nasal allergy treatments are usually composed of decongestants, which work by shrinking your swollen tissues and blood vessels to reduce symptoms of itching and sneezing. They can be in the form of liquids, pills, sprays or drops. There are over-the-counter and prescription medications available, depending on what your doctor has given following an assessment of your case. These include oxymetazoline, pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine. There are also drugs that function both as decongestant and antihistamine, such as Allegra-D, Claritin-D and Zyrtec-D.

Other allergy treatments and medications require a doctor’s assessment before they are given, some of which are invasive procedures that aim to provide a long-term solution. There are also home remedies and lifestyle changes that need to be implemented to make sure that attacks don’t happen too often. A tandem of medications and management strategies are important if you live in pollen prone areas.