September in the Midwest can be a delightful time of year, with lots of warm, sunny days and less humidity.
But if you suffer from allergies, being outside for any length of time can be anything but delightful.
“Mid-August is the traditional start of ‘hay fever’ pollen season, from ragweed and other weeds such as goldenrod,” said Dr. Duane Keitel of Allergy Partners of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. “Just like during spring pollen season, avoidance measures are the first line of treatment for allergies induced by ragweed.”
Dr. Keitel advised to keep home and car windows shut, change the air filter in your home air conditioner, wear a mask if working in the yard, and shower to remove pollen from skin and hair after being outside.
When to start medication
Daily medications are most effective if you start your regimen now, before ragweed pollen levels peak in early September, Dr. Keitel said. Your options include oral antihistamines like loratadine (brand names Alavert, Claritin, or generic or store-brand equivalent), Cetirizine (Zyrtec) and Fexofenadine (Allegra).
Popular nasal corticosteroid sprays (such as Flonase and Nasacort) are now available over-the-counter.
If those measures aren’t enough, your doctor has more options: prescription-only medications, including combination nasal sprays, oral tablets such as Montelukast (brand name Singulair) or allergy eye drops. “An allergist can also get you started on allergy shots for ragweed, or daily oral FDA-approved ragweed tablets for home administration,” Dr. Keitel said. “This will significantly reduce future symptoms from ragweed.”
Dr. Keitel also cautioned that asthmatics should be extra vigilant about their medications at this time of year, as a combination of ragweed season, kids heading back to school and spreading germs, and inconsistency among asthmatics in taking medications over the summer leads to a September spike in acute care.
Mold is in the air
Late summer/early fall also is the prime season for mold spore allergy here. Again, minimizing exposure can be key, Dr. Keitel advised: Keep compost piles away from the house, stay away from hay piles or damp barns, wear a mask when removing leaves or rotting logs, and use a dehumidifier if needed in your home.
Medications used for pollen allergies also are effective versus mold-spore allergies, Dr. Keitel said, and an allergist can begin immunotherapy (allergy shots) if needed.
