Summer Newsletter 2026

Is It Summer Allergies or a Cold?

Getting sick during summer allergy season can make it hard to figure out what’s going on with your body—are you suffering from allergies or a cold? Although they have some symptoms in common, there are a few key differences.

Where Does Your Body Hurt?

Sneezing, a stuffy nose, headache or fatigue are symptoms that allergies and colds share. However, allergies often cause itching in the nose, throat and eyes, while colds do not. Colds involve a sore throat and body aches, which are absent from allergies.

Are You Running a Fever?

Allergies don’t cause a fever, so you likely have a cold.

Do You Have a Dry Cough?

A cough is common with allergies and colds, but one that tickles the back of your throat is a sign that you have allergies. If your cough is wet and hacking, producing mucus that thickens and yellows, you’re probably experiencing a cold.

How Long Have You Had Symptoms?

The common cold usually lasts about a week, but summer allergies can persist for weeks or months if you continue to encounter your symptom triggers.

How To Feel Better

Whether you’re dealing with a cold or allergies, you can try a few things at home for relief. To soothe a stuffy nose, use a neti pot to rinse your nasal passages with saltwater. Use over-the-counter medications targeted to cold or allergy sufferers—ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (TYLENOL®) is great for body aches caused by colds, and oral antihistamines (Claritin®, Allegra® or ZYRTEC®) are ideal for allergies. Remembering to rest more can also help. Want to learn more about how to keep you and your family healthy this summer? Get started with an allergy test or a general checkup today! Call us today or use our Online Scheduler

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Ways To Manage Pet Allergies at Home

If you’re dealing with a pet allergy, you are not alone. Up to 30% of people in the U.S. are allergic to cats or dogs.¹

Symptoms of pet allergies include a runny or stuffy nose, itchy or watery eyes, sneezing, shortness of breath, itchy skin, coughing and hives. Thankfully, there are changes you can make at home to alleviate these uncomfortable side effects while cohabitating with your furry friend.

Clean Frequently and Thoroughly

Clean often to avoid a buildup of pet dust and dander. Be sure to wash couch covers, curtains, rugs and pet beds. Use HEPA air cleaners when possible, as they are more effective at removing airborne particles like allergens.

Bathe Your Pet

Once a week, bathe your pet to reduce their amount of allergy-causing danger. Particularly if you start while they are young, cats can get used to being bathed. Be sure to only use shampoo that is safe for your pet—you may be able to ask your veterinarian for recommendations.

Create a Pet-Free Zone

Though pets enjoy exploring everywhere, if someone in your household has allergies, it’s helpful to have a designated zone where the pet doesn’t go. Ideally, this will be the allergic person’s bedroom. This will help reduce exposure to allergens from the pet.

Seek Out Treatments

There are several treatments that may help you manage your pet allergies. Along with over-the-counter medications, you may also benefit from prescription medications or allergy shots.

To learn more about ways of managing allergies and get started with a customized treatment plan, contact us today at (972) 596-4005.

1 Cleveland Clinic. (2025). Pet allergies. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17702-pet-allergies

Get Ahead of Fall Ragweed Season With These Late Summer Tips

Buckle up, allergy sufferers—the fall ragweed season could be a bumpy ride. Research shows that climate change is causing the ragweed pollen season to last three weeks longer than it used to.¹

Fortunately, you can take steps to limit your sneezing and sniffling by following these tips.

Be proactive with your care. Ragweed blooms in mid-August in most places, so it’s best to start your medications before then.
Make sure you’re masked up. When working outside, wear an N95 mask to block allergens from entering your nose or mouth.
Put pollen in its place. Keep windows in your car and home closed when pollen counts are high, ensuring your spaces stay allergen-free.
Rinse away your troubles. Change clothes after being outside, clean your nasal passages with a saltwater solution and take a shower before you go to sleep at night to reduce your ragweed exposure.
Don’t stop meds prematurely. Since you can still experience allergy symptoms after ragweed pollen is no longer in the air, you should only cease taking your medication three weeks after the first frost.

If over-the-counter medications aren’t cutting it, immunotherapy (allergy drops placed under the tongue) might be the right solution for long-term relief.

85% of people with allergic rhinitis (hay fever) have found relief from their symptoms through immunotherapy.² Could you be one of them? Schedule an allergy consult with our team today to determine if you’re a good candidate.