Early Spring and mid-autumn are prime times for hay fever. The watery eyes, the sneezing that comes out of nowhere, and the sleepless nights. Many of our patients take prescribed medications that contain antihistamines, which include Non-Drowsy (Second and Third-Generation) Cetirizine (Zyrtec): Often considered the most effective for severe symptoms, though it can cause slight drowsiness in some people. Check pricing or find local availability using GoodRx. Loratadine (Claritin): Highly popular, completely non-drowsy, and mild on the stomach. Fexofenadine (Allegra): Known for being entirely non-drowsy and very effective, especially for eye-related allergy symptoms. Levocetirizine (Xyzal): A highly potent, fast-acting option that also lasts 24 hours. Sedating (First-Generation) These older antihistamines cross the blood-brain barrier, making them highly effective but frequently causing sleepiness and dry mouth. They are mostly used for immediate allergy relief, treating hives, or as sleep aids. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl): The most well-known sedating antihistamine. It works quickly but typically requires dosing every 4 to 6 hours. Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton): Another sedating option, sometimes found in multi-symptom cold and flu nighttime formulas. Targeted Antihistamines Nasal Sprays: Such as Azelastine (Astepro), which require a prescription and work locally to relieve nasal-specific symptoms. Eye Drops: Such as Ketotifen (Alaway, Zaditor) and Olopatadine (Pataday), which are applied directly to the eyes to provide rapid relief from itchiness. Natural antihistamines and other products that have minimal to no side effects Nettle – Nettle comes from the stinging nettle plant and is found in many forests. Used for centuries to relieve allergy symptoms, this inexpensive and easy-to-use product comes in a tea, although our office recommends Nature’s Way capsules for easy administration. One bottle lasts a long time and is good for mild to moderate symptoms. Alpha Glycocyl Quercitrin is a natural immune-support product that works at the cellular level. Symptoms usually subside after taking it in about half an hour. A combination of Nettle and Quercitrin is what we recommend when symptoms are moderate to severe, and the two can be taken together every four to six hours for allergy symptoms and when a cold is coming on. The combination reduces cold symptoms, including sneezing and a runny nose, as well as the effects of nasal drip on the lungs. How hay fever affects athletes Recently, the NY Times wrote an article in The Athletic regarding golfers who find themselves in different environments. Professional golfer Jill McGill, a female professional golfer, discusses what it is like to have hay fever while taking a swing and how she manages herself in these environments. The same goes for track and field and pro cycling. Hay fever inflammation can affect an athlete’s sleep, and certain courses may, at times of the year, have high pollen counts resulting in sneezing, blurry vision, and reduced athletic performance. Depending on the sport, a pro athlete may get permission to take certain drugs to curtail the allergy symptoms, similar to how many of us do now. For athletes, it is believed that the athlete should be taking the medication two weeks before the event for maximal effect. According to the NY Times, “one of the worst locations for hay fever in track and field is around Eugene, Oregon, where one of the sport’s most famous meetings, the Prefontaine Classic, is held at Hayward Field. It also hosted the World Athletics Championships in 2022.” The area is a large grass pollen and seed area and is especially bad during the Olympic trials, as well as the US Championships. Allergies can make the difference between winning and losing in professional tournaments like tennis. I would recommend that these athletes consider using the combination of Nettle and Quercetin, which is extremely effective and may not require professional body approval. Check out the article below from the NY Times Streams of mucus, inflammation and broken sleep: How hay fever affects elite sports performance Need help with your athletic performance. Book online or call either of our offices for an appointment today.