Seasonal Allergy Relief Can Be Hard to Find

March 24, 2010 -- As the snow melts, seasonal allergy sufferers may be
heading for relief indoors rather than enjoying the springtime weather.
A new survey shows 60% of people with springtime allergies have limited
success treating their itchy eyes, sinus pain, and scratchy throat. For nearly
one in five seasonal allergy sufferers the symptoms are so bad that they miss
work.
Many of the respondents said none of the main strategies for coping with
allergy symptoms, including avoidance, prescription drugs, or over-the-counter
medications, were completely successful at relieving their allergy misery. The
survey did not include questions about allergy shots (immunotherapy).
Researchers say despite the millions of dollars spent on direct-to-consumer
marketing that promises instant relief from seasonal allergy symptoms, the
answer is rarely that simple.
"Seasonal allergies affect all parts of the upper respiratory system plus
the eyes," says Marvin Lipman, MD, chief medical adviser at Consumer
Reports, which conducted the survey, in a news release. "There's usually no
single magic bullet."
But getting advice from a doctor may help. The survey showed nearly 60% of
those who discussed their seasonal allergies with a health care provider said
they were highly satisfied with their treatment.
The survey, conducted in April 2009 with 1,814 adults in the U.S. who
typically experience spring seasonal allergies, showed that April and May were
the worst months for spring allergy sufferers.
Researchers found pollen was the most commonly cited source of seasonal
allergies (79%), followed by grasses (59%), ragweed (54%), and trees (52%).
Nearly a quarter of those surveyed reported allergies to each of these
allergens.
Only 40% of spring allergy sufferers said they were completely or very
successful at managing their allergy symptoms in the previous allergy
season.
Itchy eyes were the most common symptom (87%), followed by sneezing (80%),
runny nose (77%), and watery eyes (73%).
Nearly half of all respondents said their allergy symptoms, when at their
worst, interfered "a lot" with at least some aspect of their daily lives, such
as participating in outdoor activities, sleep, mobility, ability to think or
concentrate, social activities, and their relationship with their partner.




Slideshow:
Nasal Allergy Products That Work

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