WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — It's that time of year, when pumpkin spice and sneezing go hand in hand.
According to allergy experts, some of the most common fall allergens are weed pollens and outdoor molds.
Dr. Nathaniel Hare, an allergist and immunologist at UPMC says that minimizing exposure isn't always easy, especially if you're allergic to outdoor particles.
These allergens can also find their way indoors.
"The filters on the air conditioning are not good enough to filter out mold and pollen, so they'll be sucking it right in, or if you have your windows up, it's going to come right in. Otherwise, if it's outside and you have your house shut up, it's just a matter of exposure." said Dr. Hare.
And with similar symptoms, like sneezing or a stuffy nose, how can you tell if you have allergies or just a cold?
"Tend not to get so many itchy type symptoms with colds; you may still get a stuffy, runny, sneezy, and drip in the back of your throat. The itchy, watery eyes aren't as much of an issue in general with viral infections, so that's my clue, but not everybody gets eye symptoms." said Hare.
He adds, you also have to look at the duration.
"Typically, colds last probably 10 to 14 days at most, and that's stretching it quite a bit. So, if you're looking at 2 to 3 weeks of symptoms. They are probably more likely to have an allergy at that point."
So, how do you alleviate your allergy misery?
It all depends on what type of symptoms you have.
"Antihistamines are better for itchy, sneezy symptoms, nasal sprays are better for stuffy, runny, drip in the back of your throat type symptoms, and you can combine them if you need to." he said.
If the medication is not effective, or you are having trouble tolerating it, you can consider getting an allergy shot.
According to Dr. Hare, this method works for 80% of people and usually results in a 50 to 70% reduction in symptoms.
"It just takes 6 to 12 months to kick in. But versus medicines, you're just trying to block symptoms versus the shots. It's actually not a medicine; it's a shot of what you're allergic to, it's a desensitization." he said.
If you're interested in receiving an allergy shot or have questions about allergy medications, please consult your doctor.