3 Reasons To See An Allergist About Your Hay Fever

Seeing an allergist is the obvious course of action after you have suffered an asthma or anaphylactic attack, but you don't need to wait for an emergency situation to make an appointment. In fact, you don't even need to have life-threatening allergies to benefit from seeing an allergist. Hay fever is one of the most common demonstrations of allergies, yet too often is not properly treated. Here are three reasons to see an allergist about your ordinary, everyday, annoying allergies. 

Diagnosis 

You may have a general idea of what causes your hay fever, if you keep track of the pollen counts and allergy forecasts in your area, but odds are you don't have your irritants completely nailed down if you haven't yet seen an expert. An allergist will help you identify exactly what you're up against. There are a number of ways an allergist can safely test you against different allergens. The most common testing for hay fever irritants is the skin prick test, in which your skin is almost imperceptibly pricked or scratched with allergen extracts. The skin is then observed for reactions, telling you which allergens affect you the most. Knowledge can be one of your greatest defenses in your fight against hay fever, even if it simply means you choose a different kind of tree to plant in your yard. 

Prescriptions

As you know, hay fever often feels like a bad cold in which all the symptoms hit at once and none of your standard cold remedies have much of an effect. The same symptoms must be fought a different way when it comes to allergies. Like any specialist, an allergist will be able to best identify the right medical treatments for you. This could be a pill, a nasal spray, or an injection.

Good Practices

Your allergist will give you advice for both the lessening of exposure to allergens and the alleviation of symptoms. Your allergist will be able to help you break down your typical day and identify problem areas. If you do a lot of work outside, for example, your allergist might recommend that you wear a mask. Your allergist may also recommend practices such as a daily saline nasal rinse to help fight off allergens and decrease symptoms. Make sure you let your allergist know about your biggest complaints, such as difficulty getting air in at night, so that they can customize advice for your individual needs.  

Even one trip to an allergist can completely change your quality of life. The more you know about your specific allergens and body response, the better equipped you will be to combat your symptoms and keep yourself feeling healthy. Talk to experts like Mark Montgomery MD FACS for more information.