5 Ways To Fight Spring Allergies
Spring is in full swing with sunshine, cool breezes, and perfect picnic weather but alongside it comes the dreaded battle against seasonal allergies. More than 50 million Americans are affected by allergies every year. About 7.7% of all American adults are affected by seasonal allergies while 9.6% of children are also affected by respiratory allergies.
Thanks to the change in seasons, pollen from weeds, trees, grass, and more cause symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy watery eyes, difficulty breathing, wheezing, and coughing. Oftentimes, these symptoms combined will be diagnosed as hay fever or allergic rhinitis, which is the allergic response to pollen and other airborne substances.
In order to find relief, many allergy sufferers opt for over-the-counter medication to alleviate symptoms. However, there are many other tips and tricks to help you combat spring allergies that can work alongside medication. Follow our strategies to help protect yourself from allergies both inside the home and while outdoors.
Reduce Your Time Outdoors
Although it may seem counter-intuitive to the great weather, removing yourself from lengthy ventures outdoors during the spring can help you stay away from pollen. Try staying inside, especially on windy days, when pollen counts are high. But, if you do decide to take an outdoor trip, make sure to wear either eyeglasses or sunglasses to help keep pollen away from your eyes.
You can also invest in filtered masks, which many of us are now familiar with thanks to their widespread use during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Using a filtered mask while gardening or doing yard work can help keep pesky outdoor debris and pollen away from the nose and mouth area. Leave your mask outside to avoid bringing in pollen from outside into your home.
Keep Your Indoor Air Clean
There will never be a miracle product out there that completely removes airborne allergens in the home, but with a few simple tweaks, you can certainly reduce them! Keep your windows closed so that outdoor pollen doesn’t come inside, and opt for using an air conditioner instead of fans if you have the option.
Allergy sufferers can also get into the habit of removing shoes at the door, to keep the spread of allergens picked up outside to a minimum. With that in mind, try to avoid line drying your clothes outdoors if you can, as they can collect outdoor pollen through the morning.
When it comes to cleaning, make sure that your vacuum cleaner uses a HEPA filter (high-efficiency particulate air) to trap microscopic air particles. You can also invest in a portable HEPA filter to keep inside the bedroom.
Natural Remedies and Alternative Treatments For Allergies
There are a variety of natural remedies offered to help treat allergy symptoms without medication. Natural remedies can include acupuncture but also herbal remedies as well. Although more research is needed, butterbur extract has shown promise when it comes to allergic rhinitis as it can help reduce swelling and inflammation. Another herbal formula is Bimini, which takes ingredients such as ginkgo Biloba and Chinese skullcap and utilizes their antioxidant properties to help fight symptoms.
However, it is important to keep in mind that not all-natural remedies will be beneficial, and can even cause allergic reactions. Always consult with your doctor about natural alternatives and check in on potential side effects or interferences with any of your other medications.
Keep An Eye On Pollen Levels
If you have severe symptoms from Spring allergies, get into the habit of tracking pollen levels around your area to help reduce your exposure. Local pollen forecasts are available online and can help you determine the measurement of pollen by the cubic meter of air. Oftentimes, pollen counts are higher in the morning, peaking at midday, before gradually falling towards the evening.
Start Taking Medication Early
Don’t fight what you know! If you know that you suffer from non-stop symptoms during the spring season, start taking your medication at least a week before for faster relief. By starting early, you can help reduce the worst of your symptoms and start the season off with less suffering.
Talk with your Los Angeles pharmacy specialist about what best over-the-counter medication might fit for you and your seasonal allergies. You can also transfer your prescription to Medicopharmacy and get your medications delivered quickly and discreetly to your home or office.