Coping With Allergies This Spring.
It’s hard to believe that April is here already, bringing with it not only “April Showers,” but for some of us, allergies. That yellow dust that covers your car is pollen which can have you reaching for the Benadryl. If you suffer from allergies, here are six things you can try to help you cope with your allergies this spring.
- Reduce your exposure.
The best thing to do regardless of what you are allergic to is to avoid the things that set off your allergy symptoms.- Stay indoors as much as possible on dry, windy days when pollen is more likely to be in the air.
- Delegate lawn mowing and gardening tasks to other family members without allergies or consider hiring a lawn service.
- Remove clothes you’ve worn outside and take a shower as soon as you get home to remove pollen from your clothes and skin.
- Watch the weather reports.
Most weather reports now contain information on pollen counts. If pollen counts are high, begin taking allergy medications before your symptoms start. Close doors and windows and avoid going outside if at all possible. - Keep indoor air clean.
In addition to keeping doors and windows closed; invest in an indoor HEPA filter. These portable air filters can be used in your bedroom at night to help reduce the concentration of allergens in your home. Make sure to use a good quality AC filter and change your AC filters monthly. Consider signing up for a service like FilterEasy that automatically ships filters to you each month. - Rinse your sinuses.
Rinsing your sinuses is a quick and inexpensive way to relieve nasal congestion. There are multiple types of Neti Pots available. As our pharmacists which one is right for you. - Try over-the-counter allergy medications.
If the above options aren’t enough, consider taking over-the-counter medications. Today there are several medications available over-the-counter that used to be prescription only. These medicines treat allergies different ways and contain different ingredients. Check with our pharmacists before taking any over-the-counter medication to make sure that they will not interact with other over-the-counter or prescription medications you are taking. - See your doctor.
If all else fails or you do not see any improvement, see your doctor. There are several treatments your doctor may prescribe if your allergies are severe. They will likely recommend an allergy test to find out exactly what you are allergic to so that you can avoid those triggers. They may even suggest a series of allergy shots or prescription medications that dissolve under your tongue.
Don’t let your allergies dampen your springtime fun. Give these tips a try, talk to our pharmacists and your doctor to find what works for you.
