WNKY News 40 Health Reports: Getting a Jump On Allergies

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – You probably have images of snow and ice fresh in your mind.

So, you might be surprised to learn some people are suffering from allergies.

Dr. Andrew Hartley, with Graves Gilbert Clinic says it’s important to know the differences between allergies and illnesses such as a cold or the flu.

He says allergies cause stuffy noses and coughing, just like colds and the flu can cause.

However, allergies generally aren’t accompanied by body aches and fever.

If you do decide to treat minor allergy symptoms at home, he recommends non-drowsy medications first, such as fexofendine (commonly known as Allegra) or loratadine (also known as Claritin).

If your symptoms are keeping you up at night, Dr. Hartley says moving on to medications such as diphenhydramine, or Benadryl, may be necessary.

And don’t forget cough medicines and analgesics such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen to control the other symptoms.

And if you feel you need something more than over-the-counter medications, Dr. Hartley suggests seeing your healthcare provider since more severe allergies, such as those that cause you to miss out on work or leisure activities, may need to be treated with stronger medications and you may even need allergy testing.