With Covid still lurking, no one wants to be walking around with a stuffy nose or cough, but for millions of Americans, allergy season has arrived. Seasonal allergies are most often caused by your body’s overreaction to plant pollen or mold spores. When you breathe these in, your body’s immune system responds by releasing histamine (among other things), which is responsible for most symptoms related to seasonal allergies. The resulting symptoms, like runny or stuffy nose, cough, dry or itchy eyes, headache, and others, can be make the changing of the seasons quite unpleasant for some people. Here’s 10 ways to get some relief this spring.
The following is not medical advice, only information. Consult your Physician or Pharmacist for advice.
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1. Find out what you’re allergic to
Look for patterns. Do your symptoms get worse on days you walk past the garden? Are they better or worse at different times of the day? Did your favorite indoor plant bloom today? Did you go somewhere with an indoor pet? The answers to some of these questions may help you narrow down the source of your trouble.
2. Avoid your triggers
This may seem obvious, but one of the most important things with allergies is to avoid the things that make you sick. Don’t go near your neighbor’s cat if you know she makes you sneezy!
3. Watch your grass
Many grasses found in Missouri causes allergies, like fescue, orchard grass, and rye. If you know you’re allergic to grass pollen, keeping your grass mowed short can reduce the amount of pollen released. However some grasses, like the common Bermuda grass, can release allergens even when neatly manicured, but less so than other types of grass. Consider Bermuda or Zoysia grass if fescue, Kentucky Blue or orchard grass cause you problems.
4. Change your air filters frequently
Furnace filters in your home get clogged up quickly. At a minimum, you should change your filters every 3 months. During the warm months, you may consider changing them on a monthly or every two week basis. Also, don’t forget about the cabin air filter on your car!
5. Upgrade your furnace filter
The $2 generic filters are better than nothing, but they don’t compare to higher quality filters. Filters are classified by their MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value), which ranges from 1 to 16. If you suffer from allergies, find a filter with a minimum MERV of 5. If you’re looking for even more protection, you can go up as high as a 12 without issues. Any higher filtration than that and your home ventilation system may not be able to push enough air through the filter to work properly. MERVs of 13-16 are usually only seen in hospitals.
Here are some affordable, but still high quality and high MERV filters. Be sure to pick the right size!
6. Try an Antihistamine
If these other tips aren’t working or you just can’t avoid the allergen, antihistamines are safe for most people. Consider using a “second generation” antihistamine to avoid side effects like drowsiness and dry mouth that often come with older antihistamines. Talk to your physician or pharmacist for a recommendation tailored specifically to you.
My personal favorites:
1st Generation – Diphenhydramine (Benadryl®)
2nd Generation – Fexofenadine (Allegra®)
7. Still not working? Try a steroid nasal spray.
Sometimes antihistamines aren’t enough. Steroid nose sprays are often the most effective options, but they tend to cost more and are not as easy to give yourself. There are fewer over the counter options as well. My favorite for cost and effectiveness is fluticasone propionate (Flonase). There are also antihistamine nasal sprays available by prescription.
8. Itchy eyes only? Consider an antihistamine eye drop.
Some people prefer these over the tablets because they usually have no side effects like drowsiness or dry mouth. They tend to work pretty well when symptoms are centered on the eyes. Olopatadine (Pataday) is a popular option, but there are many options available over the counter in this class.
Allergens can hang out on your sheets, in your bed, and pillowcase. If you wake up in the morning with a stuffy nose, consider this as a potential fix. Consider a hypoallergenic bed spread as well.
Dust in corners and under furniture can also be a source of allergens. Keep your house tidy. However, too much cleaning can be bad as well. Some studies have shown that kids who grow up in too “sterile” of an environment are much more likely to develop allergies. A little bit of dirt doesn’t hurt!
It’s a good idea to have your primary care provider (PCP) check you out whenever you’re having a change in your health. Your PCP can determine if your symptoms need further testing or referral to an allergist. They can also provide you with prescriptions for other treatment options when necessary. Other conditions, like asthma, nasal polyps, and acid reflux can cause allergy-like symptoms as well.
