Phoenix Allergy Doctors: Preparing for an Extended Allergy Season

If you’re suffering from heavy allergies this 2013, you’re not alone; experts predict that allergy season for this year is likely to extend right through October, which means it’s possible for things to get much, much worse. A Prevention.com article attributes this unwelcome news to two reasons: heavy precipitation during the past winter along with the rapid surge of warmer weather that followed, as well as climate change. Here’s an excerpt from the article:

Higher-than-normal carbon dioxide emissions are fueling pollen production, experts suspect, causing plants to produce three to five times more pollen than usual. “Not only is the pollen more prolific,” says allergy specialist Clifford Massett [sic], MD, clinical assistant professor of medicine at the New York University School of Medicine and Langone Medical Center, “but it seems to be more powerful, supercharged.”

If you wish to get through the allergy season relatively unharmed, Dr. Bassett offers the following tips:

Keep up-to-date

Prevention.com reminds allergy sufferers to “make a habit of checking allergen levels in your area. Go to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology’s National Allergy Bureau for up-to-date pollen counts— you can even sign up for email alerts or download a smartphone app that tracks pollen counts.”

Apply proper treatment and prevention

If your symptoms start acting up, treat it immediately. “If you use nasal antihistamines, steroids, oral antihistamines, or eye drops for seasonal allergies, don’t wait until your symptoms are unbearable to start treatment,” advises the Prevention.com article. If you plan to go out, make sure to wear oversized sunglasses and/or a wide-brimmed hat to block airborne pollens.

Get a diagnosis

Have your allergies checked by capable allergy doctors in Phoenix. They can help you determine whether your allergies are seasonal or not, as well as their level of severity. He can also create an individualized treatment plan for you. Don’t try to self-medicate, otherwise you may end up using the wrong medication.

How does a doctor diagnose allergies?

If it’s your first time to visit a board-certified Phoenix allergist, the first thing he will do is interview you. He will ask you questions about your symptoms and your family’s allergy history, and proceed to examine you. He will then perform an allergy test to confirm exactly what you’re allergic to so he can create a treatment plan that works for you.