When the weather takes a turn for the better and the sun comes out, everyone is thrilled. But you can’t help viewing the air quality reports with concern, thanks to the persistent runny nose, sneezing and eye-watering caused by your seasonal allergies. Here’s the good news, getting back to doing the things you love is a simple matter of treating your allergies.
There are numerous ways to make seasonal allergies less of a problem. The trick is finding the best one for you and your allergy symptoms.
Avoidance
Allergic reactions manifest because your immune system categorizes or misidentifies a certain trigger as a threat. A single spec of dust could trigger the same type of reaction in your body as a virus or bacteria when you have allergies.
That’s why simply avoiding contact with your trigger, if possible, is sometimes the best way to deal with your allergies. Pollen from one or another plant or sometimes fungal spores are the most common seasonal allergies.
Managing seasonal allergies can be as simple as avoiding pollen:
- Get an app that warns you when allergens are high and be mindful of the pollen count in your area.
- Be familiar with what time of year your specific allergens will likely be highest.
- Avoid being outdoors when pollen counts are high. Pollen counts are frequently highest in the early morning and at night. This also means you should avoid having your windows open at these times.
- Change clothes after going outdoors. The pollen will cling to shirts, shorts, socks, you name it. So putting on fresh, clean clothes that haven’t been exposed to the outside is the smart strategy.
- Rinsing the pollen off your body and hair in the shower, if you have the time, can also be practical.
- Keep your eye on the weather forecast. If it’s dry or windy, the pollen count tends to be higher, so keep out of these types of conditions. Instead, go outside just after a rain shower (the rain will push all the pollen to the ground, making it easier for you to breathe).
- Steer clear of landscaping projects like gardening or mowing. During those months when your seasonal allergies are a real problem, you’ll want to avoid outdoor chores whenever possible.
- If you have a solid grasp on what your triggers are, avoiding them will be less difficult and will have less of an affect on your life. Your triggers can be determined by having an allergy assessment and we can help you create a treatment plan.
Indoor Air
The majority of us live in houses that are well insulated but aren’t hermetically sealed. You will be exposed to a number of of your triggers, such as pollen, as air flows through your house. If your HVAC contains mold or allergens, this can also be an issue. Because of this, keeping your air clean is one of the best ways to prevent and manage seasonal allergies.
Closing your windows while running an air conditioner and using a HEPA filter (or a HEPA filter on your vacuum) are all practical allergy management plans. Be certain that when you use filters, you get ones of a high-quality.
Over-The-Counter Treatments
Over-the-counter allergy medicines are a constant companion for lots of people dealing with seasonal allergies. You don’t need a prescription to buy these medications, but you still should use them responsibly and according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Here are some prominent over-the-counter treatments:
Decongestants: A decongestant is designed to minimize stuffiness. This kind of medication comes in numerous brands and they all may contain different active ingredients. Decongestants may be a good short-term treatment if you’re feeling really stuffed up or if you feel like you have a plugged nose. It can also help prevent a sinus infection. But decongestants can be harmful to your health if used over extended periods of time so they may not be the right choice for seasonal allergies. If you have a runny nose, other treatments may be more successful.
Oral antihistamines: Oral antihistamines work to neutralize your body’s allergic reaction, so they work well for typical allergies and seasonal allergies (but not for food allergies). Oral antihistamines can help you get through your day but closely monitor any side-effects. Some side-effects could include drowsiness, dry mouth, or headaches.
Nasal sprays: Allergy symptoms have also been demonstrated to be effectively treated using nasal sprays. When used before exposure to allergy triggers, in most cases, nasal sprays are most effective. In this way, nasal sprays can be helpful if you know you’ll be exposed (for instance, if you need to go to an outdoor event or do some yard work).
Nasal irrigation: Some people also see improvement when they utilize saline solutions to irrigate the nose and sinuses. These can come as a spray or as a solution. It helps to thin mucus and also wash out pollen stuck in the nasal passage.
When You Should See us to Treat Seasonal Allergies
In some cases, over-the-counter medications are not best suited or effective. If you feel you’re in that category, make an appointment with us to discuss treatments and prescription medication. An allergy shot is one of the most prevalent of this type of treatment. After we determine what you’re allergic to, an allergy shot can introduce your trigger gradually into your system, slowly desensitizing your immune system.
Your symptoms can be alleviated with allergy shots. That relief can become permanent over time. Because of this, people with seasonal allergies are particularly fond of this strategy. With every year that passes, allergy season appears to be getting more severe, so this may be the best long-term solution.