There are roughly 18 million adults in the United States who suffer from allergic rhinitis, which is commonly known as hay fever. This means that nearly 8% of Americans deal with seasonal allergies every year.
Seasonal allergies can lead people to have mild to severe symptoms, including sneezing, congestion, stuffy nose, and more. It’s also common for people to have both asthma and hay fever at the same time. Unfortunately, seasonal allergies are capable of triggering the onset of an asthma attack.
Hay fever occurs when a person’s immune system misidentifies a normally harmless substance as a dangerous substance. This leads the body to release histamines and other chemicals into the bloodstream in response, which leaves the individual experiencing the symptoms of an allergic reaction.
There are old and new technologies that can help you manage allergies this year. Let’s take a look at what your options are to help ensure you suffer as few symptoms as possible.
Websites and Apps
While some might argue that the growth of the internet’s role in our lives has been negative for society, there are definitely some perks. The availability of websites and apps to help you manage allergies can completely change the way that you deal with having seasonal allergies in the first place.
You can download apps that will give you timely warnings about pollen data and forecasts. If you suffer from food allergies, there are apps you can download to help you find restaurants that have allergy-friendly food options.
Air Purifiers
Improving the quality of your indoor air can make allergy season a lot more comfortable. You can find lightweight and compact air purifiers that are easy to move around and store.
Air Filters
Whether you have an air purifier or just rely on your HVAC system for air circulation, you’re going to want to make sure you have the best air filters and that you’re replacing them regularly. Check out these 20x20x1 air filters from discountfilters.com.
Medication
You’ll want to talk to your doctor about your options when it comes to medicinal allergy treatment. Don’t wait to have this discussion until allergy season is already upon us, as they might want to start your medication before the season begins.
Lifestyle Habits
There are also a number of things you can do for the prevention of allergy symptoms in your habits. Let’s take a look at some new practices you can pick up to help with allergy management.
Keep Your Windows Closed
It’s certainly very pleasant to keep your windows open during the spring, but microscopic amounts of pollen can blow into your how and lead to an allergic reaction. When pollen is having its peak expression in the environment, consider keeping your windows closed. You can instead use a fan or air conditioning if possible to keep cool.
Change Your Diet
There are some foods that can actually help with allergy reduction. Fish that is high in omega-3s as well as anti-inflammatories and fruits rich in vitamin C are known to be beneficial in this way. Consider trying things like tomatoes, ginger, turmeric, citrus fruits, walnuts, and honey this spring.
Leave Your Shoes at the Door
The bottom of your shoes can track a lot of things into your house that you’d prefer not to be there, including pollen. For this reason, it’s a good idea to leave your shoes at the door when you’re first getting home. If you’re particularly sensitive, you can even wipe the soles of your shoes with a damp cloth.
Wash Your Hair
When you’re outside, pollen and other allergy-causing particles can get trapped in your hair. When you first get home, consider taking a shower and washing your hair right away. You can also keep your hair up in a cap when you’re outside and take it off when you’re at home to help reduce introducing allergens to your residence.
Alternative Treatments
There have been some, but not a ton, of studies done about using alternative treatments to help with seasonal allergies. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before trying any new kind of allergy treatment. That being said, there are those that believe that the following treatments can provide allergy relief:
- Spirulina, which is a type of blue-green algae
- Lactobacillus acidophilus, which is the good bacteria that occurs in yogurt
- Quercetin, which is a flavonoid that gives color to fruits and vegetables
- Vitamin C, which has some antihistamine properties
- Apple cider vinegar
- Oil pulling
There are countless folk remedies for allergies you can find online. While there’s nothing wrong with experimenting, it’s good to understand that just because something is natural doesn’t mean that it’s not potent. It also doesn’t mean that it can’t have contraindications with other medications.
How Do You Manage Allergies?
Many people manage their allergies every year through a combination of avoidance and medication. By limiting their time outdoors, keeping their windows shut, and wearing dust masks on windy days, people can help with the prevention of allergy symptoms.
On top of that, decongestants and antihistamines can help make that time of year a bit easier. Some people might even be prescribed prescription medications to deal with their allergies, such as steroid nasal sprays.
With these tactics in addiction to using apps, air purifiers, and alternative treatments, there’s a chance you can find a combination of treatments that leaves you as comfortable as possible.
Did you find this article on how to manage allergies interesting? If so, be sure to check out the rest of our blog for more fascinating and informative content!
