Apr 6, 2018

7 Great Tips For Allergy Season

Archive.

Along with new flowers and warmer temperatures comes pollen season.  If you have seasonal allergies, you have probably begun to experience some of the irritating symptoms as spring arrives.
The itchy eyes, runny nose, and sneezing don’t have to keep you from experiencing spring outdoors, however.  We’ve compiled a few tips to help you get through allergy season, while also enjoying spring.

1. Watch the weather.

A rainy day will wash away a lot of the pollen and clear the air a bit, making it a better time to go outside.  A dry or especially windy day, on the other hand, will carry more pollen through the air.

2. Do laundry more often.

Any clothes you’ve worn outside will collect pollen and should be washed as soon as you take them off.  Additionally, avoid hanging washed clothes and other laundry like bedding or towels outside to dry.

3. Take precautions when doing outdoor work.

Before you start yard work or other outdoor chores, do a quick check on the pollen level forecast for the day.

  • Do outdoor work only when it is not windy.
  • Avoid working in the early morning when pollen levels tend to be higher.
  • Wear a mask to avoid breathing in pollen while working.

4. Take care of indoor spaces too.

There are plenty of allergens inside too. Here are a few steps you can take to keep your home allergen free.

  • Use a dehumidifier.
  • Change air conditioning and heating filters regularly.
  • Stay on top of house chores. Dusting, vacuuming, and sweeping floors regularly will ensure that allergens don’t collect in your home.

5. Try nonprescription medications

The most well-known allergy relief medications are antihistamines.  These will relieve the most common symptoms like runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, and sneezing. Cetirizine (Zyrtec), Loratadine (Claritin), and fexofenadine (Allegra) are some of the most common allergy relieving antihistamines and can be found at most drug stores.
You can also try common decongestants like Sudafed to help with some seasonal allergy symptoms.
These allergy medications will be most effective if taken before symptoms even start.  So if you see that pollen levels are forecasted to be high, it might be a good idea to go ahead and take some allergy relief medication.

6. Try some home remedies

Many people have turned to more natural sources to find relief for allergy symptoms.  Some of these include

  • Local Honey: Consuming honey from bees in your area may relieve allergies.  Local bees carry the pollen where you live, so eating small amounts of local honey may help your body get used to the pollen and not react so badly to it.
  • Neti pots: It may seem strange at first, but Neti pots can be very effective at relieving allergy symptoms. A Neti pot uses a mixture of salt and warm water to eliminate decongestion and flush out allergens.
  • Steam or a warm shower: Inhaling steam can temporarily offer relief for some allergy symptoms. A quick shower can also rinse off any allergens that may have stayed on your skin or hair after time spent outside.

You can also breathe in steam sitting with your face over a bowl of boiling water and a towel draped over your head.  This can be done several times a day.

7. Ask your doctor.

Sometimes you try everything you can to relieve allergy symptoms and nothing works.  When this happens, its time to see if a doctor can help.
Crisp Regional has a team of doctors that work specifically on helping you determine what causes your allergy symptoms and on finding the treatment options that would be best for you.

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