Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
This week on "Healthwatch," we've been talking about allergies, which can be a big problem at this time of year. People who suffer from seasonal allergies may turn to over-the-counter medications to ease their suffering. Doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center say it's important to choose the right medication to treat your symptoms.
Traditional allergy medicines often cause drowsiness, but there are now medications available over-the-counter that avoid the familiar allergy medicine grogginess. An antihistamine should bring relief from symptoms like runny nose, sneezing and itchy, watery eyes within about an hour.
Dr. Bradley Marple, a UT Southwestern ear, nose and throat specialist, says if you suffer from chronic allergies or asthma, you should talk to your doctor regularly to make sure you're taking the most effective medicine to treat your symptoms.
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March 2005
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