Health Watch is a public service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general iHnformation 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 Health Watch, we're talking about summer allergies. As much as you might try to avoid exposure to allergens, you may still suffer from symptoms. You can take medication to relieve these symptoms.

Dr. David Khan, an allergist at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, says choosing the right medicine is important. Antihistamines help relieve itching, sneezing and runny nose, while decongestants are needed to take care of stuffiness. You should take medicine a couple of hours before going outdoors so it can work into your system before you're exposed to allergens. Doctors don't recommend using decongestant nose sprays because it's easy to become dependent on them.

Next on Health Watch, we'll talk about when you might want to see a doctor about your allergies.

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July 2006

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