Spring Sniffles

Sinus Advice that’s Nothing to Sneeze at

The warmest winter in recent memory means the spring allergy season has arrived earlier this year, enabling some trees, plants, and flowers to bloom early – well ahead of schedule. That’s why Philip Perlman, M.D., Director of Otolaryngology at St. Francis Hospital, is urging allergy sufferers to take pre-emptive strikes so the season doesn’t get the best of you.

“The official start of spring on the calendar and the beginning of allergy season don’t always coincide, depending on the type of winter we’ve had,” says Dr. Perlman, who alerts some of his patients to begin taking antihistamines as soon as they start sneezing and wheezing to help manage and prevent allergy symptoms, such as inflammations and sinus infections.

Dr. Perlman recommends that allergy sufferers cleanse their nasal passages with a sinus rinse solution to rid themselves of any allergens that stick to their membranes and prevent inflammation to the sinus passages and respiratory tissues. They should also use medications for allergies prescribed by their physician, and consult their physician if they feel any signs of sinusitis, asthma, or upper respiratory tract infections.

In addition, he recommends that sufferers know their allergens and visit their doctor. They should get tested to find out what they’re allergic to, so they can begin taking medication before symptoms begin which usually helps allergy sufferers in the long run.

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