Spring Allergy Relief
Spring has arrived, and so have the sneezes and sniffles that come along with it. Every year, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) ranks the 100 largest U.S. metro areas by pollen count, allergy medicine use, and allergy doctors. The top 5 most challenging places to live with spring allergies this year:
- Jackson, MS
- Memphis, TN
- Syracuse, NY
- Louisville, KY
- McAllen, TX
Get Allergy Relief No Matter Where You Live
The warm weather will drive people outdoors to face one of the season’s biggest problems, tree pollen. Children and adults with seasonal allergies should plan ahead. Common symptoms of springtime allergies include:
- Runny nose
- Itchy eyes
- Sneezing
- Congestion
Ways to Beat Spring Allergies
+ Stay indoors on windy days and during early morning
Each spring, trees release tons of tiny pollen into the air. Breathing them into your nose and lungs can trigger an allergic reaction. Staying indoors, especially on windy days and during the early morning hours, when pollen counts are highest.
When you do head outdoors, wear sunglasses to keep pollen out of your eyes. Wear a mask when you mow the lawn or work in the garden.
Once you head back inside, take a shower, wash your hair, and change your clothing.
+ Take allergy medicine.
It can help to reduce symptoms. Antihistamines block your body’s response to allergies. But read the package carefully, pay attention to side-affects like drowsiness
For more severe allergies, use a nasal spray, which may take a few days to work. Again, read the label and watch for side-affects like burning, dryness, or nosebleeds.
Your doctor may recommend allergy shots if other medicines can’t relieve your symptoms.
+ Natural relief – are they safe?
Type in “natural remedies to allergies” in Google, there are a lot of hits, some suggest apple cider vinegar, or use local honey, others suggest herbal remedies, some of which are backed by researches.
The bottom line is, talk to your doctor first, natural doesn’t necessarily mean safe.
+ Tweak your home.
Simple changes make a difference. Shut all windows to keep out pollen. Use an air conditioner to cool your home instead of a fan, which draws in air from outside.
Take off your shoes at the door and ask guests to do the same. That keeps allergens outside.
Clean floors with a vacuum cleaner. And don’t line-dry clothes or sheets in warmer weather! They’ll collect pollen while they hang outside.
Finally, don’t smoke. It can make allergy symptoms worse.
Urgent Care can reduce treatment costs to treat allergy suffers
Allergy suffers should always consult with their primary care physician for treatment; if that is not an option, patients looking for treatment related to allergies and colds – such as sinus infections, sore throats, earl infections and bronchitis, it makes more economic sense to go to an urgent care clinic than emergency room, which can save anywhere from $40 to $400 in out of pocket costs per visit.
This article is an excerpt from AAFA (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America), WebMD and News-medical.net, and is intended for informational purpose only.