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Health expert suggests tips to deal with pollen, allergies this seasonAllergy relief during allergy season -
Ahmad Sedaghat, an ear, nose, and throat specialist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. When spring allergens—typically pollen from oak, elm, birch, poplar, or maple trees, depending on where you live—float through the air and reach the nose, the body sometimes overreacts.
Mast cells in the lining of the nose mistake the harmless tree particles for dangerous invaders, and summon help by releasing chemicals such as histamine and tryptase, which then recruit more immune system cells to the battle.
Those chemicals, however, also trigger watery eyes, a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and a sore throat—a gooey mess known as hay fever allergic rhinitis. Your sleep is worse, you're more tired in the morning, and your quality of life suffers," says Dr.
Instead of allowing the body to conduct an unnecessary fight against pollen, you can turn off your defense system with medications.
But it's best to do so before those allergens arrive. This is partly because some drugs, such as corticosteroid nasal sprays, take a few weeks to become fully effective. It's also because the reaction to even a few allergens has a snowball effect.
Sedaghat explains. Only certain allergy medications should be used in advance. Topping the list is a corticosteroid nasal spray, such as mometasone furoate Nasonex or fluticasone propionate Flonase. Many of these sprays are now available over the counter.
Another medication that can be taken in advance of anticipated symptoms is an antihistamine, which counteracts the effects of histamine. But antihistamines can be risky for older adults. Some antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine Benadryl , can cause drowsiness, leading to falls.
Sedaghat suggests avoiding it. Better options include the antihistamines fexofenadine Allegra or loratadine Claritin , available over the counter.
Those drugs are less likely to cause drowsiness. Safer than oral antihistamines are prescription antihistamine sprays, such as azelastine Astelin and olopatadine Patanase , which may help prevent the symptoms of sneezing and a runny nose while minimizing drowsiness. Antihistamine eyedrops, such as ketotifen Zaditor , available over the counter, and olopatadine Patanol , available by prescription, can be used to prevent watery eyes.
Decongestant pills, such as pseudoephedrine Sudafed , help reduce nasal congestion, but they can cause problems for people with high blood pressure or heart problems and should not be used to manage allergies.
Decongestant sprays such as oxymetazoline Afrin should not be used for more than a few days, since long-term use can make congestion worse. Another option is allergy shots to help reduce allergic symptoms, but that approach can take three to five years to be fully effective.
This is usually a last resort for people who don't respond to medications and do not have asthma. Work with your doctor to develop a pretreatment strategy, including how far in advance you should use medications. That plan should also include drug-free ways to avoid allergens, such as keeping air conditioning and heating filters and vents clean, keeping windows closed, wearing a mask for outdoor yard work, and avoiding going outside when pollen levels are highest.
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Get helpful tips and guidance for everything from fighting inflammation to finding the best diets for weight loss from exercises to build a stronger core to advice on treating cataracts. The pollen particles stick to mucus membranes, causing inflammation and irritation to the nose and eyes.
For those who suffer extreme reactions, their breathing is affected, and they may develop asthma. Not all environmental allergies are seasonal. They include allergies to cat hair and dust mites.
Seasonal allergies are treated in a variety of ways. Decongestants can be used to relieve congestion. Over-the-counter cough medications are commonly recommended as well.
For people who need additional relief, antihistamine or steroidal nose sprays can be prescribed by your doctor. If you need more specialized care, your doctor may recommend allergen immunotherapy.
This helps your immune system build up a tolerance against an allergen by exposing you to the irritant in small doses. Allergen immunotherapy can be given in two ways:. The department schedules weekly conferences to guide care of complex allergy cases, so patients benefit from multiple expert opinions.
In addition, we conduct research to determine the molecular basis of allergic disorders in order to develop new ways to treat people with allergies. Our goal is to help you better enjoy the seasons as they turn by keeping the achoos in check.
Skip to Main Content. Seasonal Allergies Allergic Rhinitis. Print Share. What are allergies? What are common seasonal allergy symptoms? Congestion Sneezing Itchy eyes, nose and throat Runny nose and eyes Post nasal drip drainage in the throat Fatigue Coughing.
What are the most common seasonal allergens and when do they occur? What is an allergy test? An allergist performs tests to pinpoint the cause of your allergic reactions.
There are two kinds of tests: Skin tests: The doctor pricks the surface of the skin, usually on the upper arm, and injects a tiny amount of suspected allergens. If an allergy exists, the skin will react by becoming inflamed, red and swollen, which may cause temporary discomfort.
Skin tests give fast results—usually within a half hour or 24 to 48 hours.
Some home remedies for rleief, like nasal irrigation or certain durihg oils, can help relieve Allergy relief during allergy season allergy symptoms. Some of the Allergh Fueling for explosive performance for causing allergic reactions Non-GMO crops. Doctors typically treat allergies with a variety of approaches which often include medications and allergy shots. There are, however, natural and home remedies for allergies that you might consider. The best natural remedy for allergies is, when possible, avoidance. Both doctors and natural healers will suggest that you limit or avoid allergens, which are what causes your allergic reaction. Health risks of extreme high-protein diets Chia seed granola shows little risk Fueling for explosive performance infection from prostate biopsies. Discrimination at work duriny linked esason high blood pressure. Xuring fingers allfrgy toes: Allerby circulation or Raynaud's phenomenon? Image: iStock. The spring allergy season begins next month, and if you want to avoid symptoms, you must act now. Ahmad Sedaghat, an ear, nose, and throat specialist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. When spring allergens—typically pollen from oak, elm, birch, poplar, or maple trees, depending on where you live—float through the air and reach the nose, the body sometimes overreacts.Allergy relief during allergy season -
Oral medications like Sudafed, along with those nasal decongestants mentioned above, can help relieve stuffiness. But you run the risk of side effects that include higher blood pressure, increased heart rate, irritability or insomnia.
Because of the potential side effects, decongestants should only be used short-term — three to five days max — when allergies are severe. Prescription allergy medications can be especially helpful if you have asthma , too. There is some evidence that vitamin C can help people suffering from seasonal allergies.
Vitamin C acts as a natural antihistamine, so it can help reduce allergy symptoms after someone has been exposed to an allergen. Talk to your doctor before adding any vitamins or supplements to your seasonal allergy treatment plan.
While allergy seasons seem to be starting earlier and lasting longer these days, pollen seasons are somewhat predictable. So, start taking allergy medications about two weeks before the allergy season and your symptoms begin.
Then, continue taking them regularly throughout the rest of the season. Once inflammation starts, it may take longer to get relief. Oral antihistamines take about a half hour to get into your system. Bedtime is a good time to take allergy medications. Sinus rinses are a popular seasonal allergy treatment that you can do at home, working well with antihistamines and nasal sprays.
The neti pot may be one of the most recognizable sinus rinse products. A neti pot can be picked up at any local drugstore or online and typically comes with packets to mix with warm, distilled water to create a saltwater solution.
Using the pot to pour the solution through your nasal cavities, you can flush out gunk and allergens to reduce swelling and ease symptoms. Knowing the pollen count and air quality index in your area can help you plan an attack for allergy symptoms.
How can you find out? Just turn on your favorite weather report. Many reports include the pollen count in your area. Or go online to Pollen.
Taking a trip? Check the count at your destination and take along medications just in case. In the spring, summer and early fall, remove excess moisture from the air using a dehumidifier or air conditioner. This can help reduce the growth of mold and mildew spores known to cause some allergies.
In dry winter months, a humidifier can add moisture to a room to soothe dry, irritated nasal passages. Make sure to clean and change the filter regularly. Unfortunately, moisturized air can also cause dust mites to increase. A HEPA filter can trap airborne allergens like pollen and pet dander, helping keep more irritants out of the air.
A good rule of thumb is to check your filter once a month to see if it needs replacing. There are several different types of air purifiers, and each works differently to clean the air you breathe. So, research your options to determine which may be the best fit for you needs. Allergy testing can help your care provider diagnose your exact allergies and come up with a treatment plan to help relieve your symptoms.
Allergy tests are pretty simple. The tests are performed on your skin at a clinic that offers allergy testing. This determines what allergens are causing your symptoms. These shots help teach your body to not be allergic and are given over the course of a couple of years until a target dose is reached.
Once the right dosage has been reached, your doctor will work with you on a maintenance schedule. Allergy shots are the most effective way of treating allergies and work better than most prescription medications. A course of allergy shots can give you long-term symptom relief that could last for years.
And for the subset of people who are allergic to year-round household irritants like dust mites, mold, and cockroaches, any season can turn into allergy season. Allergy symptoms happen when your immune system interprets what should be a relatively benign substance as a threat.
James Wedner, an allergy and immunology specialist at Washington University in St. But others may be able to find relief with the right remedy. These drugs can be administered orally or through nasal sprays, and are typically available in over-the-counter and prescription-strength forms.
Wedner recommends introducing medications several weeks before peak allergy season to blunt symptoms before they start.
Sokol notes that some sprays take about a week to work. Antihistamines are great for symptoms like itchy eyes, Sokol says, but corticosteroids are better for congestion. You may need to mix and match to find the right regimen for your symptoms. Mite-blocking encasements for bedding can be helpful for those with dust allergies, Sokol says, and replacing carpet with tile or hardwood can eliminate hiding places for allergens.
Keeping pets out of your bedroom can also reduce symptoms, Sokol adds. People with chronic environmental allergies may want to try immunotherapy , which gradually acclimates the body to allergens through a series of injections.
But immunotherapy is not a quick-and-easy solution. It requires weekly shots for about six months, followed by years of less-frequent maintenance shots. Gabriele de Vos, an associate professor of allergy and immunology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.
Immunotherapy using pills that dissolve under the tongue, instead of shots, is now available for dust-mite and grass allergies , and studies have shown that this method can be effective. The caveat, Sokol says, is that people who are allergic to many things may still experience symptoms, since the pills are specific to dust or grass.
Research has also shown that injecting allergens directly into the lymph nodes can be effective.
Chia seed granola Clinic allerty appointments in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota and at Mayo Clinic Skinfold measurement for older adults System locations. Spring means flower felief and blooming trees sexson and durnig you're one of the Allergy relief during allergy season djring people who have seasonal allergies, it also means sneezing, congestion, Chia seed granola durin nose and other bothersome symptoms. Seasonal allergies — also called hay fever and allergic rhinitis — can make you miserable. But before you settle for plastic flowers and artificial turf, try these simple strategies to keep seasonal allergies under control. Seasonal allergy signs and symptoms can flare up when there's a lot of pollen in the air. These steps can help you reduce your exposure:. There's no miracle product that can eliminate all allergens from the air in your home, but these suggestions may help:.
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