Allergy Season. Again.

Great skiing this weekend, but allergy season is gearing up even as the ski season winds down.

If you are chronically a hay fever or allergy patient, now's the time to prepare.

Sleep with your windows closed, if possible. Wash your hands after coming inside from being outdoors. If possible, avoid being out and about in mid-day since this is when pollen counts are at their highest.

If you usually take a medication that works well for you, don't wait until you're sneezing and weeping continuously to start taking it. Now is a good time to start. Once everything is covered with green pollen, you're already behind the 8-ball.

Remember that as far as pills are concerned, the more effectively they work as anti-histamines, the more likely they are to produce drowsiness.

Over-the-counter Claritin is a pretty good balance of effectiveness versus drowsiness. Zyrtec is "stonger", but more likely to make you feel sleepy and Benadryl even more so.

Avoid decongestant nose sprays such as Afrin, 4-Way or Neo-Synephrine. Use of these for over 3 days in a row can be addictive.

Prescription nose sprays such as Nasonex or generic Flonase are actually more effective than pills alone. However, you have to use them daily for the duration of the allergy season. Otherwise, they are not so effective.

Please see me if you are having allergy symptoms despite such treatment, or if you also have a lot of coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or shortness of breath. This could mean you have asthma and not just simple hay fever.