Spring brings flower buds and flowering trees, but it also brings sneezing, congestion, a runny nose, and other irritating symptoms to the millions of people who suffer from seasonal allergies. Seasonal allergies, often known as hay fever and allergic rhinitis, can be debilitating. However, before you settle for synthetic flowers and artificial turf, try these basic tactics for managing seasonal allergies.
Reduce Your Exposure to Allergens
Reduce your exposure to the things that cause your allergy symptoms and indications (allergens):
- On dry, windy days, stay inside. After a nice shower, which helps clean pollen from the air, is the greatest time to go outside.
- Avoid lawn mowing, weed pulling, and other gardening tasks that may expose you to allergies.
- Remove your outside clothing and shower to remove pollen from your skin and hair.
- Laundry should not be hung outside because pollen might adhere to sheets and towels.
- Wear a face mask when doing outside tasks.
When Pollen Counts are High, Take Extra Precautions
When there is a lot of pollen in the air, seasonal allergy symptoms and indicators might become worse. These actions can assist you in lowering your exposure:
- For pollen forecasts and current pollen counts, check your local newspaper, TV or radio station, or online.
- If there is a forecast for a high pollen count, begin taking allergy drugs before your symptoms appear.
- If you can, shut the doors and windows at night or at other time when there is a lot of pollen.
- Avoid going outside in the morning when pollen concentrations are at their peak.
Clean Up the Air Within
There isn't a magic solution that will purge every allergen from the air in your house, however the following ideas could be useful:
- Use the a/c in your vehicle and home.
- If your home has forced air heating or cooling, utilize high-efficiency filters and adhere to scheduled maintenance.
- Use a dehumidifier to keep the air inside dry.
- In your bedroom, use a portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.
- Use a HEPA-filter vacuum cleaner to often clean the floors.
Try a Nonprescription Medication
Many different nonprescription drugs can help reduce allergy symptoms. They consist of:
- Oral Antihistamine. Sneezing, itching, a stuffy or runny nose, and watery eyes can all be alleviated by antihistamines. Cetirizine (Zyrtec Allergy), fexofenadine (Allegra Allergy), and loratadine are a few examples of oral antihistamines (Claritin, Alavert).
- Nasal sprays with corticosteroids. These drugs lessen nasal symptoms. Fluticasone propionate (Flonase Allergy Relief), budesonide (Rhinocort Allergy), and triamcinolone are among examples (Nasacort Allergy 24 Hour). Discuss the long-term usage of corticosteroid nasal sprays with your doctor.
- Cromolyn sodium nasal spray. By preventing the production of inflammatory immune system components that cause symptoms, this nasal spray can reduce allergy symptoms. The best results come from beginning medication before being exposed to allergens. Although it's regarded as a fairly safe treatment, 4 to 6 times a day is frequently required.
- Oral decongestants. Nasal stuffiness can be temporarily relieved by taking oral decongestants such pseudoephedrine (Sudafed). Some antihistamine and decongestant medicines are used to treat allergies. Examples include fexofenadine-pseudoephedrine (Allegra-D 12 Hour Allergy and Congestion), loratadine-pseudoephedrine, and cetirizine-pseudoephedrine (Zyrtec-D 12 Hour) (Claritin-D). Ask your doctor if using a decongestant to treat your allergy symptoms is a wise course of action.
Clean Out Your Sinuses
Nasal irrigation, or rinsing your nasal passages with saline solution, is a quick, low-cost, and efficient technique to clear nasal congestion. Mucus and allergens are instantly flushed out of your nose by rinsing.
You can buy pre-made saline solutions or kits to add to water. Use bottled water while making or using a kit or homemade saline solution to lower the risk of illness.
1 quart (1 liter) of water, 1.5 teaspoons (7.5 milliliters) of canning salt, and 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) of baking soda should be included in homemade solutions.
After each usage, cleanly rinse the irrigation device and let it out in the open to air dry.
Additional Therapies
Hay fever symptoms have been treated with a variety of natural treatments. Extracts from the plant butterbur, spirulina (a form of dried algae), and other herbal therapies are among treatments that may help symptoms. The few well-designed clinical trials that have been conducted do not provide enough proof of the efficacy and safety of these treatments.
Studies on acupuncture have yielded conflicting findings, however some have suggested a little effect.
Before attempting alternative remedies, consult your doctor.
When Natural Therapies are Ineffective
Many people find that avoiding allergies and using over-the-counter drugs is sufficient to reduce symptoms. Don't give up, though, if your seasonal allergies continue to cause you trouble. There are numerous other therapies available.
If you suffer from severe seasonal allergies, your doctor may advise having skin or blood testing to identify the specific allergens that are to blame for your symptoms. Testing can help you discover your individual triggers, the steps you need to take to avoid them, and the therapies that are most likely to be effective for you.
Allergen immunotherapy, or allergy shots, may be a viable choice for certain people. This therapy, also known as desensitization, includes regular injections of very small doses of the allergens that cause your allergies. These injections lessen the immune system response that results in symptoms over time. Some allergies can be treated with pills placed under the tongue.
