Valentine’s Day Is the Perfect Time to Show Your Nose Some Love: Start Allergy Medications Now


DENVER - Valentine’s Day is all about planning ahead, and that mindset applies to allergy season, too. While spring pollen may still feel far away, allergy specialists at National Jewish Health say mid-February is actually the ideal time to start allergy medications for long-term relief.

Seasonal allergies affect millions of Americans each year, causing sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes, fatigue and sleep disruption. But many people wait until symptoms are already miserable before taking action — which can make medications less effective.

“Starting allergy medications before pollen levels rise gives your body time to respond and reduces the severity of symptoms once allergy season is in full swing,” said Kanao Otsu, MD, an allergy and immunology specialist at National Jewish Health. “Think of it as prevention rather than reaction — just like you wouldn’t wait until you’re already sick to take care of your health.”

Most allergy medications, including nasal steroid sprays and daily antihistamines, work best when taken consistently over time. Starting them in mid-February allows medications to calm inflammation and block allergic responses before exposure ramps up.

“Allergy symptoms don’t usually hit all at once. They build gradually,” Dr. Otsu said. “By starting now, patients can significantly reduce congestion, sinus pressure and fatigue later, when pollen counts peak.”

Experts also recommend pairing medication with simple environmental strategies, such as checking daily pollen forecasts, keeping windows closed on high-pollen days, showering after outdoor exposure and changing clothes after spending time outside.

For people with more severe or persistent allergies, now is also a good time to talk with an allergist about personalized treatment plans, including prescription therapies or allergy immunotherapy.

“Valentine’s Day is about taking care of what matters most,” Dr. Otsu said. “Starting your allergy medications now is a small step that can make a big difference in how you feel all spring long.”
 

National Jewish Health is the leading respiratory hospital in the nation delivering excellence in multispecialty care and world class research. Founded in 1899 as a nonprofit hospital, National Jewish Health today is the only facility in the world dedicated exclusively to groundbreaking medical research and treatment of children and adults with respiratory, cardiac, immune and related disorders. Patients and families come to National Jewish Health from around the world to receive cutting-edge, comprehensive, coordinated care. To learn more, visit njhealth.org or the media resources page.


We have many faculty members, from bench scientists to clinicians, who can speak on almost any aspect of respiratory, immune, cardiac and gastrointestinal disease as well as lung cancer and basic immunology.

Our team is available to arrange interviews, discuss events and story ideas.

Make an Appointment