by B. B. James

Created on: April 13, 2010

Every spring, the sneezing and wheezing begins just when plants begin to bloom.  It’s allergy season.  What can you do to minimize the symptoms?

Medical treatment for allergies has advanced substantially in the last two decades.  Over-the-counter pills are extremely effective, and more advanced prescription medications can handle an extraordinary range of irritants.  But just taking medicine isn’t usually the best answer.  It’s costly, and most medications have some side effects, especially after prolonged, daily usage.

The experts say that the way to start beating allergies is to reduce your exposure in the first place. Specifically, try to implement the following strategies:

1. Stay indoors when pollen and other irritants are at their peak.  That means that the daytime, especially on windy days, is bad news for you.  Check your local weather report online to find out if it’s going to be a high-pollen day; and then don’t do outdoor chores on that day, if you can avoid it.

2. Don’t bring allergens inside with you.  People don’t think about it very much, but their clothes and their pets attract allergens.  Think about a dark car you see outside that’s covered in a dusting of yellow pollen.  That same stuff gets on your clothes and your pets.  So don’t leave your clothes outside, and rinse off your dog when you come in.

3. Keep your windows closed.  There’s nothing more wonderful than a spring breeze wafting through a house that’s been shut and musty all winter.  But if you’ve got bad allergies, you just can’t do it.

4. When you use your air conditioner, use a new air filter.  This will not only keep the allergens from circulating, but it will enable the A/C to run at maximum efficiency.  Also, put in a good filter that is designed to capture allergens, not the 99-cents version.

5. Consider buying an in-room high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter for your bedroom.  Nighttime is when many people experience their worst allergy symptoms, so do what you can to keep your bedroom sterile.

6. Vacuum and mop regularly—at least once per week.

 When avoiding allergens isn’t enough, or to ensure you get decent sleep, consider taking a mild over-the-counter antihistamine, decongestant, or nasal steroid.  Taking them during the day will likely reduce your concentration at the office or driving, but at night, they’re great.  Remember to take them steadily, according to the instructions on the package.  They don’t work in a half-hour like aspirin; they usually take a few days to have a full effect.

If that doesn’t work, go see a doctor.  But before you go to the doctor, make a list of what you’ve done to reduce your exposure, as well as a list of trees and plants that you are heavily exposed to.  Your doctor has a better chance of providing you with the right medicine or other treatment if he/she knows what you’ve been exposed to.

 (Sources: Mayo Clinic, Webmd.com, AAAAI.com, and my own common sense)

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