How to Handle Your Spring Allergies
Spring is beautiful, but it's also a key time of year for
. As plants release
, millions of people with
start to sniffle and
.
There's no cure, but you can take steps to curb
, from
to household habits.
The biggest pollen trigger is
. Trees, grasses, and weeds release these tiny grains into the air to fertilize other plants. When they get into the nose of someone who’s allergic, they send the body's defenses haywire.
The immune system mistakenly sees the pollen as a danger and releases antibodies that attack the allergens. That leads to the release of chemicals called histamines into the
. Histamines trigger the
, itchy
, and other
that are all too familiar if you have allergies.
Pollen can travel for miles, so it’s not just about the plants in your neighborhood.
Triggers include:
Trees
Alder
Ash
Aspen
Beech
Box elder
Cedar
Cottonwood
Cypress
Elm
Hickory
Juniper
Maple
Mulberry
Oak
Olive
Palm
Pine
Poplar
Sycamore
Willow
Grasses and weeds:
Bermuda
Fescue
Johnson
June
Orchard
Perennial rye
Redtop
Saltgrass
Sweet vernal
Timothy
Pollen counts tend to be particularly high on breezy days when the wind picks up these sneeze-inducing grains and carries them through the air. Rainy days, on the other hand, wash away the allergens.
Pollen isn’t the season’s only trigger. With spring rains, there's more
growth inside and outside your home. And spring cleaning will stir up
throughout the house as well.
You may have:
Congestion
Watery eyes
Itchy eyes and nose
Dark circles under the
Start with your regular doctor. They may refer you to an allergist for tests.
The
specialist may give you a
test, which involves either pricking the surface of the
with a tiny amount of allergen (prick test), or injecting a tiny sample of a diluted allergen under the skin of your arm or back. If you’re allergic to the substance, a small red bump (called a wheal or hive) will form. Sometimes, you may get a
test.
There are many medicines that can ease the
. They include:
reduce
, sniffling, and
by lowering the amount of
in your body.
shrink the
vessels in the nasal passageways to relieve congestion and swelling.
Antihistamine/decongestant combos combine the effects of both drugs.
Nasal spray
relieve congestion and may clear clogged nasal passages faster than oral
without some of the side effects.
ease
and are the preferred initial treatment. Only three,
(
Allergy), fluticasone (
), and
(
Allergy 24HR), are available over the counter.
sodium nasal spray can help prevent hay fever by stopping the release of histamine before it can trigger
.
Combination nasal sprays combine the antihistamine olopatadine and the steroid mometasone (Rylatris) to block allergy symptoms and ease inflammation. The FDA recently approved the use of this nasal spray in those aged 6 and above.
drops relieve itchy, watery eyes. Ketotifen (Zaditor) is available over the counter.
Even though you can buy these allergy drugs without a prescription, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor first to make sure you choose the right medication. Some antihistamines can make you feel sleepy, so be careful if you take them during the day. Non-drowsy types are also available. If you feel like you need over-the-counter
and decongestants for more than a few days, talk to your doctor.
Have you tried OTC remedies and need something more? Your doctor may recommend a prescription medication,
, or under-the-
immunotherapy tablets. Many
nasal sprays are available by prescription, too. There’s also a bioelectronic sinus device available that uses microcurrents to stimulate nerve fibers to help reduce sinus inflammation, pain, and congestion.
Immunotherapy gives you gradually increasing doses of the allergen until your body can handle it. The treatment can relieve your symptoms for a longer time than other types of allergy
. Although it doesn’t work for everyone, it can stave off some people's symptoms for a few years.
Nasal irrigation uses a combination of warm water, about a quarter-teaspoon of salt, and a quarter-teaspoon of
to clear out mucus and open
passages. You can use a squeeze bottle or a
, which looks like a small teapot. Use distilled, sterile, or previously boiled water to make up the solution. It’s also important to rinse the irrigation device after each use and leave it open to air dry.
Some others have mixed research on how much they help:
. This herb, which comes from a European shrub, shows potential for relieving
symptoms. Some studies show
-- specifically an extract called Ze 339 -- to work as well at easing allergy symptoms as some antihistamines.
Quercetin. This nutrient is found in onions, apples, and black tea. It’s been shown in research to block the release of histamines.
Stinging nettle. Although some people use freeze-dried stinging nettle leaves to treat allergy symptoms, there isn’t much research to show that it works.
Talk to your doctor before you start any herbal product. Some can cause side effects or can react with medications you take.
Try to stay indoors whenever the pollen count is very high. The counts usually peak in the mornings.
Keep your doors and windows closed during the spring months to keep allergens out. An air purifier may also help.
Clean the air filters in your home often. Also, clean bookshelves, vents, and other places where pollen can collect.
Wash your
and face after going outside, because allergens can collect in eyelashes and nostrils.
Change your clothes if you've been outside.
Vacuum twice a week. Wear a mask, because vacuuming can kick up pollen,
, and dust that were trapped in your carpet.