In late fall, we are all busy raking leaves, tuning our heaters, and otherwise preparing our homes for winter. But wait, winterizing is not just for houses; this is a great time of year to get your allergies in good shape for winter and the coming spring!
For many people who suffer from recurring sinus infections, the winter season is tough. Respiratory viruses, dry air, and increased indoor allergen exposure make this the time when most patients' sinuses are at their worst. If this has been your experience, it is likely you have underlying chronic rhinitis. Because your nose and sinuses are partially swelled at baseline, it is harder to shrug off colds and flu without progressing into a bacterial sinus infection. At Traceside, we can help by identifying what is triggering your baseline swelling and implementing an avoidance and treatment plan to help you stay healthy and feel your best.
This isn't just time to prepare for winter; it is also a great opportunity for those with spring, summer, and fall seasonal allergies to get a jump on the season. First, since most plants have been killed by frost, many patients find this the easiest time of year to stop antihistamines for allergy testing, to identify their triggers. Secondly, to feel your best during the springtime, you will need to have a plan in place before the season starts to stay ahead of spring pollen. Finally, for patients who want to consider allergen immunotherapy (allergy shots), which in many cases permanently retrains your immune system to tolerate what you are allergic to, this is a great time to start, complete buildup, and allow maximum time for your allergies to improve, before the trees start blooming in March!