Even though we are still experiencing summer temperatures, fall allergies are in the air! Warm weather and recent rains have set the stage for ragweed to grow and produce pollen prolifically across the eastern U.S.
Ragweed pollens began surfacing in mid-August and will cause some 40 million Americans with allergies to suffer.
In the metro Atlanta area,
indoor dust and dander have been in the extremely high range. Pollen is already at the moderate level. Both levels will get worse before they get better!
Allergies are the 5th leading chronic disease in the U.S. among all ages, and the 3rd most common chronic disease among children under 18 years old. Allergies are the most frequently reported chronic condition in children.
For adults, allergies are a major cause of work absenteeism with nearly 4 million missed or lost workdays each year, resulting in a total cost of more than $700 million in total lost productivity.
Although there is no place free from allergy triggers and there is no cure, allergies can certainly be managed.
It's best to stay ahead of the itching, sneezing, drippy nose and wheezing and begin taking medication before symptoms start. The misery can linger until the end of the season, so wait until a few weeks after the first frost to stop taking medication.
Cherokee Custom Script Pharmacy has both natural remedies and other over the counter products.
D-Hist is an excellent natural product, costing $29.75 for 120 caps. The junior version is $13.85 for 60 chews.
A generic version of Zyrtec is $7.43 for 100 tablets.
Cherokee Custom Script Pharmacy will be closed on Monday, Sept. 3 to celebrate Labor Day.