Ah, Spring! Ahh Choo!

Do your eyes itch as the flowers begin to bloom? Do green grass and leafy trees just make you sneeze? Then you might be one of the estimated 50 million Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies. 

Allergies are nothing to sneeze at. They account for the loss of up to 6 million work days and 2 million school days each year. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, Americans spend as much as $4.5 billion annually on medications and doctor visits to treat their allergies. 

With spring allergies about to burst on the scene, here’s some exciting news to help you deal with the general misery so many of us suffer from:  There are now two types of allergy medications that used to be available by prescription only, but are now available over the counter. 

The newest are Zyrtec^®, Zyrtec-D^®, and their generic counterpart, cetirizine, which is available as a generic and as store brands. Zyrtec joins Claritin^®, Alavert^®, and their generic counterpart, loratadine, which is also available in generic and store-brand versions. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared these drugs, called non- and low- sedating antihistamines (NSAs), to be sold at retail. The FDA is confident that the drugs are safe and effective when patients take them according to label directions. Another benefit — NSAs can be paid for through pre-tax flexible spending accounts. 

You can also control your allergies by limiting your exposure to allergens. Here are some Dos and DON’Ts for keeping sneeze-free:

• DO close your windows at night and while driving in the car.
• DO use air conditioning whenever possible, as it cleans and dries the air.
• DO try to stay indoors when it’s humid or windy. Limit your outdoor activity between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.—the peak pollen hours.
• DO shower before bedtime so you don’t carry pollen or mold particles to bed with you.
• DO brush your dog or cat after they’ve been out— they could be carrying allergens.
• DON’T mow the lawn.
• DON’T hang bedding or laundry outside to dry.

For people who recognize and understand their allergy symptoms, NSA over-the-counter allergy medications can help them wake up ready to enjoy each day of the allergy season. And feel good about taking time to smell the flowers.

Sources:
WGN Chicago, http://wgntv.trb.com.
Alliance for Healthy Homes, www.afhh.org/chil_ar/chil_ar_asthma.htm.
Physicians Plus Insurance Corporation, www.pplusic.com/members/plusreport.asp?article_id=3.