If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you are definitely not alone. When it comes to dreadful times, the phrase “allergy season” is up there with “tax season”, “finals week”, and “the yearly visit with the in laws”. Allergies affect millions of Americans every year. Although there is no way to eliminate allergies altogether, there are some things you can do to avoid some of the most common allergens.
The main allergens include pollen from trees, grass and weeds, mold, animal dander, and dust. Allergies that occur in the spring often arise from tree pollen. Allergies in the summer are often from grass and weed pollen, and allergies in the fall are often from ragweed. Mold allergies are usually worse during humid and rainy weather because mold is more common where water collects. Proteins found in the skin, saliva, and urine of furry pets such as cats and dogs are allergens. Many allergens, such as dust mites, are in dust. They live on dead skin cells and other things found in house dust.
There are some things you can do to help avoid these common allergens. To avoid pollens, it’s good to shower at bedtime in order to wash off pollen in your skin or hair. Staying indoors as much as possible on dry or windy days may also reduce your allergies. You can minimize the amount of mold in your house by frequently washing shower curtains, windows, and other places where mold may grow. Opening doors and windows and using fans can increase air movement and prevent mold. Unfortunately the only way to avoid pet dander is to give away your pets, or stay away from other people’s as much as possible. No matter how cute Rover and Trixy are, they won’t help your allergies. As for dust mites, frequently cleaning carpets and curtains, and dusting appliances and other surfaces will reduce your allergies.
Also, remember that allergies can make you more susceptible to a catching a cold. Be sure to get plenty of rest, stay hydrated, avoid touching your eyes and nose, and wash your hands often.
If you are one of the many people suffering from these seasonal allergies, there are things you can do to lessen the severity of your symptoms. Follow these simple tips as best you can and the term “allergy season” won’t give you that sick feeling in your stomach anymore!
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As fall kicks off, the statistics for allergic reactions go sky high. About 50 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergy caused by ragweed, mold, pollen, and other substances. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology plots 20% of the U.S. population need to combat allergies symptoms on a regular occurrence while another 20% deal with hypersensitivity to food, stimuli, or environmental stuffs.
Ragweed allergy may look so simple but a lot of people cannot sleep, work, and do their daily routines because of coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes.
Here are some tips which can help you breathe more comfortably during the allergy season:
1. Eat healthy. Make sure that your diet will be rich in Vitamin C which can boost your immune system and acts as a naturally antihistamine. You can also take about 1000 mg of Vitamin C on a daily basis to shield yourself from ragweed allergy and other seasonal allergies. Omega-3 rich food like flaxseed, salmon, and walnuts will also help.
2. Magnesium can also help to ease your breathing. About 400 mg is ideal according to immunologists. You can also try to irrigate your nostrils with a squirt or two of salt water to help remove trapped allergens and excess mucus. Horseradish, hot mustard, and chili pepper on your favorite dish can also serve as temporary decongestants.
3. Wear sunglasses when you go out. Hay fever or allergic rhinitis brings with it some photosensitivity. The sunglasses can help protect your eyes from the sun and prevent excessive watering and itchiness.
4. Cold packs will be useful when engage in sports or other outdoor activities. Apply the cold pack to your eyes and your face and it can help a lot in reducing the inflammation.
5. Drink a lot of water. Re-hydrating your body throughout the day will help you cool down and relieve you of the allergic symptoms.
6. Stay away from dairy products. As much as they are really enjoyable, dairy products will trigger your body to produce more phlegm and just worsen your symptoms.
7. When taking a shower, use the bathroom exhaust fan to prevent the growth of molds. It is also advisable to replace your shower liner every month especially when you have mold allergies or if you have asthma.
8. Make sure to regularly clean the dryer vents which often accumulate dust. Regular cleaning of surfaces in your house will help decrease allergic reactions. Getting rid of clutter is also another key to prevent seasonal allergy.
9. Consult your doctor so you can be tested for any food allergies. Most often than not, people who have allergies are also sensitive to some foods that they usually take. Some people who are allergic to birch pollen, for example, also react to potatoes, carrots, and apples. Ragweed allergy is also aggravated if you do not react well to a glass of milk.
10. Get an air purifier good enough to filter particles which are about 20 microns or smaller. Pollens and allergens are about that big so making sure that you have clean air passing through your system will be a big help. Running the air conditioner just to decrease humidity may also reduce allergy symptoms.
Every allergic reaction stresses our immune system. Find out what allergens cause you trouble so you can avoid them, modify your lifestyle, and protect yourself from these seasonal allergies.