Over 50 million people suffer from allergies every single year.
That’s a lot of runny noses and watery eyes!
But if you have seasonal allergies you know that these symptoms are just the start of your suffering. In fact, allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illnesses.
Does your life get controlled by allergies every spring? You can change that. Keep reading to learn how to keep spring allergies from running your life.
1. Learn Your Triggers
The first step toward overcoming seasonal allergies is learning your triggers.
The most common allergy triggers include plant pollen and mold spores. Figure out which trigger affects you most. Then, work to avoid your trigger.
If you know that you react badly to grass pollen, don’t mow the grass. If the pollen count is high, wear a mask outside and limit your time outdoors. Once you know your triggers, you can change your actions and help your allergies.
2. Purify Indoor Air
To receive allergy relief, try purifying the air inside your home.
First, perform a thorough spring cleaning when allergy symptoms start to appear. Clean the whole house, concentrating on any fabrics, like carpet or furniture, that holds allergens.
Then, shut your windows and use your air conditioner to cool your home. Make sure that your HVAC system has fresh filters to purify the air that circulates around your home.
Doing these steps will keep your home clear of allergens.
3. Use Over-the-Counter Medication
Once allergy season hits, you’ll become a frequent visitor to your local pharmacy. Over the counter medications are lifesavers when it comes to allergies.
If you suffer from allergies regularly, you may take a daily antihistamine. If you aren’t taking an antihistamine, add one to your daily routine. Also, use decongestants and nasal sprays to help during bad allergy days.
4. Rinse Your Sinuses
To prevent seasonal allergy symptoms that linger beyond medication, try rinsing your sinuses.
Use nasal irrigation to clear allergens from your system. This also helps to get rid of any congestions or mucus.
5. Visit an Allergy Doctor
If you’ve tried all the above advice and still suffer from seasonal allergies, it’s time to find an allergy doctor.
An allergy doctor is much more knowledgeable regarding allergies than a normal family doctor. They’ll start your treatment with an allergy test, which will pinpoint your exact triggers.
Then, they can move forward with the treatment that is best for your allergies and your symptoms.
Say Goodbye to Spring Allergies
Now that you know how to keep spring allergies from running your life, it’s time to say goodbye to seasonal allergies.
The first step in your process is to learn what your allergy triggers are and to purify the air inside your home. Then, use over the counter medications and try rinsing your sinuses for temporary relief. If your symptoms persist, visit an allergy doctor.
If you have more allergy-related questions, head over to the health section of our site for all the answers.