A Season of Bloom, A Season of Balance; Instructions for the Care of Joyful Humans
There is a certain magic to spring.
Longer days. Softer light. The return of warmth.
And, for many, the quiet but persistent arrival of seasonal allergies.
What begins as a tickle in the throat or a hint of congestion can quickly unfold into something far more disruptive—runny nose, itchy eyes, fatigue, disrupted sleep. A body that feels, quite simply, out of rhythm with the beauty unfolding outside.
The good news is this: we have many elegant, effective tools to restore that balance.
For many patients, over-the-counter therapies provide an excellent foundation.
Daily antihistamines such as Claritin (loratadine), Zyrtec (cetirizine), or Allegra (fexofenadine) work by calming the body’s histamine response—the very mechanism responsible for that cascade of sneezing, itching, and congestion. Taken consistently during peak allergy season, they can significantly reduce symptoms before they fully take hold.
Nasal sprays are another cornerstone of treatment, and often underutilized.
A gentle, once-daily steroid spray such as Flonase (fluticasone) reduces inflammation directly within the nasal passages, addressing congestion at its source. For those particularly troubled by a persistent runny nose, a prescription antihistamine spray like Astelin (azelastine) can provide targeted relief, helping to “dry up” symptoms in a way that oral medications alone sometimes cannot.
And yet, sometimes, these thoughtful first steps are not quite enough.
If you find yourself still struggling—persistent congestion, disruptive cough, sinus pressure, poor sleep, or simply feeling miserable despite consistent use of over-the-counter therapies—this is the moment to move beyond self-management.
This is where good primary care becomes essential.
At Deserving of Joy, we have a wide range of additional options that allow us to tailor treatment to your specific symptoms and physiology. This may include prescription-strength therapies, combination regimens, inhalers for airway symptoms, short courses of targeted medications, or a more nuanced evaluation to ensure we are treating the right underlying process.
Most importantly, it allows us to care for you as a whole person—not just a collection of symptoms.
For the vast majority of patients, this level of care is more than sufficient to restore comfort and function. But for the rare cases that prove more persistent, more severe, or more complex, we have the ability to thoughtfully extend care even further.
I am delighted to introduce you to Dr. Anita Sivam, founder of Inspire Allergy and Asthma.
Dr. Sivam represents something truly exciting—the next evolution in patient-centered medicine: direct specialty care. Much like direct primary care, her model removes the barriers of traditional insurance, allowing for deeper evaluation, expanded testing when appropriate, and highly individualized treatment plans.
For patients with severe allergies, asthma, or symptoms that do not respond to even well-managed primary care, this level of specialty partnership can be transformative.
But most importantly, you have a clear path forward:
Start with simple tools.
Escalate thoughtfully.
And know that you are supported at every step.
Spring should feel like renewal—not endurance.
As always, I am here to help guide you toward the right treatments, the right timing, and the right level of care.
Because feeling well is not a luxury.
It is something you deserve.
Dr. Mount