How can I tell the difference between an allergy, cold and sinus infection?
It can often be difficult to tell the difference — especially during a pollen season such as this — when there are still winter viruses in circulation. An old rule of thumb is that clear runny nose and sneezing without fever is usually allergy. Q: Is it OK to start taking over-the-counter allergy medications (without symptoms) to prevent a full-blown allergy breakout? A: Most OTC medications are fast-acting and can be used at the onset of symptoms. Some, such as prescription nasal corticosteroid sprays, are indeed best used ahead of time to prevent symptoms. Q: What allergy treatments work and which do not? A: The short answer is that there are three basic steps to treating allergy. First, identifying the causative allergen and attempting to avoid exposure. This can be effective in some cases, such as removing a pet from the home. In most cases, it is impossible to completely avoid your allergens. Second, we use appropriate medications. Finally, if someone is not well-controlled, we
