Sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose… If you have allergies, then you’ve probably experienced these symptoms more often than you’d like. These symptoms can affect your daily life, but the good news is that there are ways to make sure you’re fully covered this allergy season.
We sat down with Dr. Amina Abdeldaim, MD MPH, a board-certified allergist and medical director for Picnic, a platform that can help you find a personalized treatment plan based on your medical history, symptoms, and preferences to discuss what you should have on hand this allergy season.
So which allergies are most prominent right now?
Until early to mid-July, grass pollen will be the most prominent aeroallergen, according to Dr. Abdeldaim. From July until the first frost, ragweed takes over. Mold, dust and pet allergen exposure can happen year-round.
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Below Dr. Abdeldaim offers her tips on being prepared for allergy season:
Have an allergy kit on hand in case of an emergency
Experiencing severe or life-threatening allergies? You can find solace in having an allergy kit on hand, but what exactly should you keep in it?
“For mild allergy symptoms that do not interfere with quality of life, an occasional antihistamine or eye drop can work well,” Dr. Abdeldaim shares.
However, if you notice that your symptoms are beginning to affect your daily life; it’s time to get advice on which antihistamines or nasal sprays may be right for you. You can also consider getting allergy testing to correlate your symptoms to specific allergens, Dr. Abdeldaim suggests.
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“For those with life-threatening allergies, an auto-injectable epinephrine pen is essential,” Dr. Abdeldaim points out.
If you suffer from environmental allergies, it is wise to be prepared as well. For example, if you are allergic to dust, consider keeping an antihistamine pill or eye drop on hand if you know you are going to be in a dusty environment.
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