Fighting against allergy season

CINCINNATI (WKRC) - Allergy misery is on the rise right now, as are a few other colds and viruses.

If you want to target your treatment, you might need to separate a few symptoms you get from ragweed, mold and other weeds from what normally goes along with a few of these other illnesses already circulating.

With kids going back to school, the chances of illness are high.

Allergy specialists at the Cleveland Clinic say if it's a cold or other virus or infection, chances are your symptoms will last usually a week or two. Allergy misery will likely start toward the end of the summer and the beginning of fall. It will most likely last for the next few months or until we get a hard freeze to kill the allergens.

If your nose runs clear instead of a colored discharge, that's also an allergy sign too.

Allergies also tend to not have a fever with respiratory problems, but rather a runny nose, scratchy throat and itchy eyes.

If you don't get relief from over-the-counter mediation, you should see your health care provider.

Starting something stronger now, such as a nasal steroid, may help you all season, so you are not chasing symptoms.

A few lifestyle changes may be in order right now to avoid pollen, including closing windows and turning on air conditioning whenever possible. You also may want to shower before bedtime to try and remove allergens from your hair and body.

Don't forget that pets can bring in what you are allergic to on their fur and feet, so you may need to keep them bathed and not let them sleep beside you all night.

Another non-medicated way to find relief is to rinse your sinuses. Rinsing should be done with distilled water.