Are you the type of person that hides indoors when pollen count is on the rise? Allergies got you on the run? As a person who's plagued with allergies and has a mild case of asthma, I know how horrible allergies can be.

Allergies are abnormal reactions to ordinarily harmless substances. Substances such as these are called allergens, that can be inhaled, swallowed or come into contact with the skin.

List of Allergens:

pollen
mold spores
house dust mites
animal danders
certain foods
insect bites or stings
plants
insect spores

latex rubber
viruses
bacterias
medications
environmental conditions

All can factor in the causing pf allergy symptoms.

Symptoms caused by Allergies are:

sneezing often including a runny or clogged nose
coughing and postnasal drip
itching eyes, nose and throat
allergic shiners (dark circles under the eyes)
the "allergic salute" (in a child,upward rubbing of the nose causing a crease mark)
watery eyes
conjunctivitis(inflammation of the membrane that lines eyelids causing red rimmed swollen eyes)

Ever wonder what you can do about it? Some treatment suggested are as follows:

Wear a pollen mask when mowing or house cleaning
Stay indoors in the morning (pollen count is highest then)
Read and understand food labels (regarding people with food allergies)
Keep windows and doors closed during high pollen season
Use the air conditioner in the house or car
Rid home of indoor plants
Don't allow dander producing animals in the house
Wash sheets, mattress pad and blankets weekly in hot water
Use acaricide (a chemical that kills house-dust mites)
Use air filters
Use a dehumidifier

Types of Medication for Allergies

Decongestant spray such as Afrin (oxymetazoline) or Vicks Sinex (phenylephrine)
An oral decongestant that can be used is Sudafed(pseudoephedrine).

Steroid nasal sprays used to mute the inflammatory response. These types include Flonase(fluticonase), Nasonex (mometasone), Nasocort (triamcinolone) and Beconase (beclomethasone)

Antihistamines are drugs that block the action of histamine, which is responsible for allergic symptoms.
Short-acting antihistamines, generally over-the-counter (non-prescription) can help ease mild or moderate symptoms. Claritin is now available for over the counter prescription (loratadine).
Longer-acting antihistamines can be just as effective and include Allegra(fexofenadine),
Zyrtec (cetirizine) but require a prescription. Benaydryl (diphenhydramine)

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