It's easier to prevent allergic symptoms than stop them, expert
says SATURDAY, March 16 (HealthDay News) -- The spring allergy
season is off to an early start and allergy sufferers need to
take action to prevent symptoms, an expert says. "If you start
after the symptoms are in full swing, it's much harder to stop
the allergic reaction than to prevent it from the beginning,"
Dr. David Rosenstreich, director of the allergy and immunology
division at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, said in
a center news release. Symptoms of seasonal allergies, commonly
referred to as hay fever, include itchy eyes, nose and throat;
sneezing; stuffy or runny nose; tearing up; and dark circles
under the eyes. "In the early spring, trees are the first to
start producing pollen as soon as they start budding, and it
creates major problems for people with allergies," Rosenstreich
said. "The symptoms people experience often resemble a common
cold, but, if it happens every year at this time, it's most
likely allergies." In ad