Tips on Managing Seasonal Allergies

Allergic reactions occur when your immune system reacts to a foreign substance in the body, called allergens. Allergens vary in nature and severity, with many different types of symptoms. The most common allergens are indoor/outdoor nasal, food, skin, drug, pet, and insect. Seasonal allergies that disrupt the nasal passage, eyes, head, and throat affect almost 50 million Americans. Typically, these allergies are caused by trees, grass, weeds, pollen, dust mites, animals, and insects. There is no cure for allergies, so managing them through prevention and on set treatment can help improve your life. Understanding your triggers and using a variety of treatments can reduce the frustration of coughing, sneezing, itching, and overall inconvenience.

Manage your air:                              

• Keep indoor air out: Make sure you aren’t exposing yourself to the allergens passing through the air through open car or home windows.
• Service your furnace and/or air conditioner: Changing the filters in these systems and having them checked regularly can help reduce the amount of dust and pollen that can get into your home, which can sometimes be worse than outdoor allergies.
• Dehumidifiers: Mold can trigger allergies and asthma just like outdoor pollen. Dehumidifiers help stop mold growth by reducing moisture content in the air.
• HEPA filters: These filters force air through mesh that traps particles such as pet dander, dust mites, and pollen.
• Wash everything: Cleaning your house and changing your sheets in always important. However, when your allergies are the most severe, it helps to make sure there is no excess pet hair, dust, or traces of outdoor allergens.
• Wear a mask: In extreme cases, a mask to go over the mouth and nose will help protect passageways from incoming mold, dust, and other allergens. These are most helpful when working outside with pollen exposure.

Diet considerations:

• Inflammation: Your body is naturally inflamed when you have allergies, so avoiding inflammatory foods will help decrease your symptoms. Dairy can have inflaming effects as well as foods with high salt content and alcohol.
• Spicy foods: Eating foods with capsaicin and other spicy herbs and vegetables can help break up mucus and ease the nasal sensation that allergies can trigger. Spicy food also increases circulation in the body.
• Fluids: Drinking water is very important when reacting to allergies. When you are dehydrated, histamine production increases which can further allergy symptoms. Taking anti-histamine drugs for allergies can also cause dry mouth, so increasing water consumption can help combat the side effect.
• Tea: If you are going to drink something other than water during a time of severe allergies, tea is a good option. Tea helps soothe the throat and the medicinal benefits may improve symptoms.
• Local honey: Honey has anti-microbial benefits and tastes great, but some studies have shown that incorporating local honey into your diet can help combat outdoor allergies.

Heal yourself:

• Antihistamines: Claritin, Zyrtec, and other pharmaceutical drugs are the most common products used to fight the symptoms of allergic reactions. You can buy them over the counter and typically see fast results.
• Supplements: For a runny nose and drainage, N-Acetyl Cysteine, and amino acid, can help cleanse the head. Quercetin, Butterbur, and Stinging Nettle may also combat allergens.
• Vitamin C: Boosting your immunity will help your body feel better and support your system as you manage compromising allergens in your body. Citrus fruits and greens are high in vitamin C.
• Neti Pot: Using a salt solution and neti pot can help clear out your nasal passages and soothe your head.
• Allergy shots: In severe cases, allergy shots help those who cannot control every day allergens that enter their body. Protecting yourself from anaphylactic shock is extremely important in severe cases.
• Showering: Getting steam into your nasal passages will help break up mucus and open passageways. Washing off your body of pollen and other allergens will help you heal.
• Essential oils: Adding about 5 drops of peppermint, eucalyptus, lavender, or another strong essential oil to your steamy shower will also help optimize breathing and settle headaches. Applying the oil in 1 to 2 drops directly to the skin, such as on the temple will also help naturally sooth inflammation.
• Acupuncture: The traditional Chinese medicine can help relieve inflammation that coincides with your allergies as an alternative to antihistamines.