Spring is once again upon us, which is a welcome sign of warmer weather and bright colorful flowers. The only problem is that this is also the time of year known as allergy season, which comes with stuffy noses and pollen-filled skies. Luckily, you don’t have to be miserable for the next two months! Here are 4 of the best ways to fight against seasonal allergies:
1. Reduce Your Exposures
While it’s not possible to stay indoors for the entire months of April and May, you can plan ahead to avoid the worst times of the day for pollen and other allergens. In most cases, pollen counts are the highest on dry, windy days. When it’s really windy, the allergens are carried throughout the air which can lead to your allergies acting up. On the contrary, the best time to go out is after a good rain, which helps to clear the pollen from the air. If you are going to be doing outside chores, such as gardening or mowing the lawn, remove the clothes that you wear as soon as possible and wash the pollen from your skin and hair.
2. Focus on Indoor Air
When most people think of seasonal allergies, they think of the outdoor air and all the new plants and flowers that are blooming. While this is without a doubt part of the issue, you can also have allergy flare-ups if your indoor air is not clean. While there is no miracle way to rid your house of all the allergens, there are some steps you can take to limit your contamination risk. It’s important to keep your indoor air as dry as possible, which can be done using a dehumidifier. If you have forced heat or air coming into your home, be sure to change out air filters often and have your unit routinely maintained.
3. Find Medications That Work for You
One of the hard things about allergies is that every person is triggered by different things. Also, people respond differently to allergy medications. You can begin by trying over-the-counter remedies such as Zyrtec, Claritin, and Allegra. You may also want to try using a corticosteroid nasal spray to improve nasal symptoms. If you find that these methods aren’t working for you, speak to your doctor who can refer you to an allergist. They can perform tests to figure out exactly what allergens you are responding to, as well as prescribe other medications or allergy shots if necessary.
4. Rinse Your Sinuses
If you are looking for fast relief from your allergy symptoms, you can try rinsing your nasal passages with a saline solution. Doing this will flush out the mucus and allergens that are built up in your nose. You can either buy a saline solution kit from the pharmacy or you can make your own at home using bottled water, canning salt, and baking soda.
Would you like to learn more about seasonal allergies and how to treat them? Sign up for a consultation today with one of our knowledgeable pharmacists. We look forward to speaking with you soon!
