Surviving Spring Allergies
Spring allergies can be terribly miserable. Constant sneezing, runny, itchy eyes, and a runny nose are just the beginning. Some people suffer from sinus infections, headaches, and stuffiness as well. In order to get through this season, it’s helpful to learn some survival tactics. Here are some ideas for surviving the symptoms of spring allergies.
Avoidance
Okay, it’s pretty hard to avoid breathing outdoor air; pollen is everywhere. But even though you can’t avoid going out in it, there are ways to minimize your exposure. Here are some tips on avoidance of allergens this spring.
* Window filters – If you really like the fresh air of spring, you can get filters that fit in your windows. Finer than screens, these filters fit into your open window and sometimes have a fan attached. These allow you to pull in fresh air and filter out pollens.
* Air purifiers – Having air purifiers in your home, especially in your bedroom, can really help with your comfort. Air purifiers can remove the pollen from the household air, which can come in via open windows, on hair and clothes, or it can be tracked in on shoes.
* Heating and cooling – If you turn on your air conditioner or heat during spring, make sure your filters are clean. Heating and cooling systems can pull in pollen-saturated air and bring it into your home.
* Masks – When working out in the yard or when you’re just outdoors, you can wear a simple face mask. This helps immensely with respiratory symptoms.
Eyes
For your eyes, over-the-counter drops may help. You also might want to wear clear safety glasses while working outside to protect your eyes from allergens. Another tip for helping your eyes – don’t rub them, even if they itch. Rubbing can introduce more allergens into your eyes from your hands, and rubbing can also irritate your eyes and exacerbate under-eye circles and puffiness.
Medications
There are a variety of over-the-counter medications you can choose from. Experts generally agree, though, that taking allergy medications is something you should do temporarily and as minimally as possible. Make sure that the allergy medication you choose does not make you sleepy at times when you need to be alert, such as driving.
If you don’t want to take oral medication, nasal gels and sprays can help. Inhalers can help with lung and throat symptoms. You might prefer this kind of topical treatment, especially if you need to avoid drowsiness.