Up to 20% of people have allergies of some kind or asthma which is usually caused by underlying allergies. There are effective treatments for allergies, so there is no need to suffer with allergy symptoms.

Many allergy medications can be found over the counter. These can be effective remedies and are good first line options for managing runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing and itchy, watery eyes. The most basic allergy medications are the antihistamines, which are usually found in tablet or liquid form. 

Second line therapy is the nasal steroids which come in spray form over the counter. These are more potent and probably should not be used long term without a doctor's advice. They tend to take up to several days to take full effect, so don't give up on them too soon.

Allergy shots, or immunotherapy, is the only FDA approved method of treating the cause of allergies. In this process injections with a very small needle are given that teach the immune system not to respond with allergic symptoms to benign substances like pollen, pet dander or mold spores. These shots can also be done for life threatening allergies like bee stings or fire ant stings. "Allergy drops" are also available, but are not yet FDA approved, largely because of lack of knowledge about the effective doses or combinations of allergens in drops.

With so many available options there is no need to "just deal with" allergy symptoms. A board certified Allergist/Immunologist has received 2-3 years of specialized training after residency training in the science and management of allergic disorders. He or she is well equipped to help with allergies of all kinds. Relief is just a call away!