 |
| Summer Allergies |
Fresh cut grass, blooming trees and flowers, and weeds all release pollen, causing seasonal allergies in millions of people every year. The medical term for hay fever and seasonal allergies is allergic rhinitis.
Allergic rhinitis can strike anyone, at any age. Some children have it and then outgrow it. Others might experience ever-worsening symptoms as they get older. Some people might get it for the first time as adults.
Others might move to a different part of the country or the world, and suddenly start experiencing seasonal allergies. Likewise, some people might move in the hopes that their allergies will go away. (This is not usually likely, however, because allergens are everywhere, and can also travel far.)
For example, Arizona used to be a popular place for allergy and asthma sufferers to move to. However, many people moving there in the last 40 years or so has meant them introducing plants that can trigger allergies.
Every plant releases pollen, but people only usually react to one or two plants. As mentioned, mold is a common allergy as well, and can affect people both outdoors and in their own homes.
Mold season lasts for all but the coldest months of the year, so anything sufferers can do to avoid mold and keep down mold in their homes can help offer relief.
The Dangers of Allergies
There are a number of dangers related to allergies. Left untreated, seasonal allergy symptoms can drag people down and even spur asthma attacks. Approximately 80% of those with asthma also suffer from seasonal allergies. Treating hay fever symptoms promptly can reduce asthma–related emergencies and trips to the hospital.
Allergy-induced asthma attacks, also referred to as allergic asthma, typically present as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, and sometimes blueness around the lips. If you or someone in your family is not getting help from their inhaler, this should be treated as a medical emergency.
Other Respiratory Issues
People with compromised immune systems, such as HIV/AIDS or those who have had a transplant, often have lung issues that can be worsened by season allergies such as hay fever.
Those who suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other respiratory conditions need to manage their seasonal allergy symptoms to prevent further complications.
A Challenge Every Season
Someone suffering from seasonal allergies faces the same challenges season after season and year after year. Some years will be worse than others depending on weather conditions in the winter and then spring and summer.
In damp conditions, mold will proliferate. In windy conditions, pollen of all kind will blow far and wide, including in your windows, doors and cars. There’s really no escape.
But you can do your best to fight allergies on a number of fronts. Here are several suggestions on how to deal with your hay fever, tree pollen and grass allergies.
1. Be aware of your risks
Certain underlying medical conditions make it more likely you will have seasonal allergies. These include:
* Asthma
* Severe stress
* A deviated septum (an issue with the structure of your nose)
* COPD
* Nasal polyps (small lumps and bumps inside your nose)
* A recent injury, especially to the nose
* Pregnancy
* Food allergies
* After surgery
* A lack of sleep, weakening your immune system
These conditions, and others, can adversely affect your immune system and stop it from functioning properly.
Allergy symptoms are caused when our bodies release histamine in response to an allergen. A strong, healthy immune system can be the key to fighting seasonal allergies.
2. Reduce stress
Stress can worsen physical health as well as mental health. Stress causes inflammation in the body, which can make allergy symptoms even more severe. Stress management and stress relief techniques can help you relieve your symptoms naturally. Try meditation, biofeedback, and relaxation techniques.
3. Adopt an anti-inflammatory diet
If you’ve ever hit your thumb with a hammer, you will be familiar with the effects of inflammation. Now imagine that kind of inflammation throughout your entire body. Stress produces inflammation too. Inflammation is what also produces many of your common allergy symptoms. Eating an anti-inflammatory diet by avoiding things that trigger inflammation, and eating things that reduce inflammation, is an easy option.
There is a wide range of tasty foods you can add to your diet. These include:
* Blueberries
* Oats
* Green tea
* Ginger
* Turmeric
* Wild-caught salmon
* Raw honey
You can find other suggestions at:
http://www.eatthis.com/anti-inflammatory-foods/
Likewise, there is a range of food that can trigger inflammation:
* Sugar
* Unrefined carbs like white flour, white pasta
* Fried foods
* Dairy products
* Vegetable oil
* Artificial sweeteners
* Preservatives
* Red meat
You can find other suggestions for foods to avoid at:
http://www.eatthis.com/foods-that-cause-inflammation/
4. Avoid foods that are common allergens
During the months you suffer from allergies, consider avoiding foods that are common allergens, including:
* Dairy
* Ground nuts like peanuts
* Tree nuts like walnuts and pecans
* Soy
* Gluten, from wheat and rye
* Eggs
* Fish
* Shellfish
Caffeine and alcohol could also worsen symptoms. In addition, they don’t mix well with many of the most common over-the-counter and prescription medicines that are used to treat seasonal allergies.
5. Add raw wildflower honey to your diet
As we just mentioned, raw honey is good for reducing inflammation. It can also be used as what is termed homeopathy, using a small amount of a particular substance that causes health issues to treat the issue.
In the case of raw honey, try to buy it from a local farmer’s market or beekeeper who lives within a 10- to 20-mile radius of where you live. Those bees will have been gathering pollen from your local flowers and this can help reduce your allergic reaction to it.
Take a teaspoon each morning to help relieve sneezing, watery eyes and congestion.
6. Beware of pregnancy-related asthma
Each year, pregnant women who have never had allergies or asthma before suddenly develop the condition. Experts think it might be in relation to a woman’s immune system already being challenged. If you are pregnant and feel abnormally short of breath or notice a pregnant woman wheezing, it could be allergies and/or allergic asthma. The symptoms will usually disappear once the baby is born.
7. Consider medications
Antihistamines, corticosteroids and decongestants, as well as other over-the-counter allergy medications, counteract the effect of the histamines produced by the body and stop more from being produced. However, all of them do carry a risk of side effects, some of which are so severe that they can make you "sleepwalk" through your day and might even compromise your ability to function normally.
The most common side effects to watch out for include:
* Drowsiness
* Dry eyes
* Dry mouth
* Stomach upsets
* Heart palpitations
* Disturbed sleep patterns
* Stomach upsets
* Trouble urinating (usually in older men with prostate issues)
* Impaired performance, such as when driving a car
Note that there are quite a few over-the-counter and prescription medications to choose from, so if the side effects are worse than the allergies, consider trying another option. Remember that there is no cure for seasonal allergies, just treatments for the most common symptoms.
Always read the label. Many of the products are not suitable for people with various underlying health issues, such as:
* Pregnant women
* Breastfeeding women
* High blood pressure
* Heart disease
* Kidney disease
* Liver disease
* Glaucoma
* Thyroid issues
When in doubt, discuss with your doctor anything you are considering using to ensure it is safe.
Allergy Medications
There are a number of allergy medications that can be used alone, or in combination, to relieve a range of allergy symptoms. Many are available over the counter, while some require a prescription. They should be used under a doctor’s supervision.
* Antihistamines - These medications are commonly used to treat allergies such as allergic rhinitis or sometimes hives and other extreme allergic reactions.
* Nasal sprays - Sprays can be used to treat allergic rhinitis and/or non-allergic rhinitis.
* Eye drops - Eye drops soothe, cool and protect against irritants.
* Allergic emergency medications - These are medications used to treat anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock if allergy symptoms get severe enough to produce symptoms like:
o Hives
o Feeling too warm
o Looking flushed
o Trouble swallowing
o Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
o Abdominal pain
o A weak and rapid pulse
o Swollen tongue or lips
o Wheezing or difficulty breathing
o Tingling hands, feet, mouth, or scalp
* Oral corticosteroids: These medications are sometimes used to treat severe allergies and can also be used as a rescue medication for asthma. Nasal corticosteroids are often used to deal with sneezing and congestion.
* Montelukast - This medication is used for relief of allergic rhinitis symptoms and asthma. It blocks leukotrienes, which can often cause allergy symptoms. It requires a prescription.
8. Consider eye drops
Red, watery, itchy eyes can be a misery, and made worse if you just can’t help yourself and rub them. Rubbing your eyes can introduce foreign bodies and germs into your eyes, making your symptoms even worse. Some eye drops are formulated for allergies, such as Visine-A. Patanol can also soothe allergy-stricken eyes and is available by prescription.
9. Add spice to your foods
If you are experiencing chest congestion, try adding aromatic or spicy foods to your diet to help purge mucus and enable you expel it. The best options include:
* Garlic
* Onions
* Ginger
* Red peppers
* Cayenne pepper
* Cinnamon
10. Drink more hot liquids
Soup and/or bone broth can also help relieve nasal and chest congestion. They also help keep you hydrated and purge toxins.
11. Add probiotics to your diet
Probiotics support a stronger immune system. They improve digestion, increase energy levels, and help you combat inflammation. Your best options are:
* Yogurt with active cultures, like Activia
* Fermented foods like sauerkraut or kimchi (Korean pickled vegetables)
* Pickled horseradish
12. Eat more pineapple in spring and summer
Pineapple contains a helpful enzyme called bromelain. It also contains high levels of vitamins B and C, which are essential for health and the immune system. Eating the core will provide the highest concentration of helpful nutrients.
Note: Do not eat pineapple during ragweed season in the fall, as the bromelain can actually worsen symptoms.
13. Eat more kiwi fruit
The humble kiwi has about three times more vitamin C than an orange. Peel and eat, or add to a green smoothie.
14. Add acidic foods to your diet
Apple cider vinegar helps to boost the immune system. It also breaks up mucus and supports drainage of the lymph glands.
Lemon juice contains vitamin C to boost the immune system and relieve congestion.
Create a tonic of one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, one of fresh lemon juice, one tablespoon of freshly-grated ginger, and a half-tablespoon of local raw honey. Take up to three times a day to relieve symptoms.
15. Eat a rainbow of organic vegetables
Eating a variety of differently-colored vegetables offers a range of phytonutrients (plant nutrients) that strengthen your immune system. Healthy choices include:
* Beets
* Broccoli
* Carrots
* Cabbage
* Swiss chard
* Sweet potatoes/yams
16. Add omega-3s to your diet
Omega-3s are heart-healthy, but also help soothe inflammation. Add salmon, tuna and mackerel to your diet as you cut back on red meat. You can also increase your omega-3 levels with flaxseeds and walnuts (if you are not allergic to these, of course), which both work well as crunchy and tasty additions to salad.
17. Try herbal teas
Nettle tea is often used to help relieve congestion and various upper respiratory issues.
Licorice tea soothes the throat and opens airways.
Look for organic teas in your health food store and buy high-quality ones produced in the US, Canada, UK or European Union.
There is also a range of respiratory formulas, allergy and detox teas. Buy from reputable companies like Yogi Tea or Heath and Heather.
18. Understand your allergic reactions
While the timing and severity of an allergy season vary across the country, the following atmospheric factors can also influence how bad your hay fever symptoms might be:
* Tree and grass pollens thrive during cool nights and warm days.
* Pollen levels tend to peak in the morning hours and taper off significantly by the evening.
* Rain washes pollen away; however, pollen counts can soar after rain, especially if the temperature rises.
* Wind can carry pollen hundreds of miles.
19. Investigate your allergies
You may have had allergies all your life and have come to accept them as an annual misery. However, many people have more than one kind of allergy. For example, up to 75% of American people have a ragweed allergy. Some people also have food allergies.
An allergist can help you pinpoint symptoms and explore options you might never have considered before. It might be possible to eliminate certain allergies through testing.
20. Practice good timing
If you have a history of prior seasonal problems, and take various remedies for your symptoms, allergists recommend starting your medications about two weeks before you can expect them to begin, such as February to help deal with hay fever.
21. Consider allergy shots
Allergy shots involve injecting small amounts of the allergens that trigger your symptoms. Over time, this will change your immune system so that you will no longer get an allergic reaction.
However, the process is slow, and can take three to five years.
Sublingual allergy treatments are similar to shots, except that the allergens are placed under the tongue instead of injected, making this an easier treatment - especially for patients who are not fond of needles.
22. Be vigilant about grass allergies
There are a number of grasses that can trigger allergies in the late spring and early summer. They include:
* Bermuda
* Johnson
* Kentucky
* Orchard
* Redtop
* Rye
* Sweet vernal
* Timothy
Keep your lawn short — tall feathery grasses will scatter pollen far and wide, especially on dry, windy days.
If you are sure your allergies are triggered by your lawn, you might wish to re-landscape your property. It’s a drastic solution, of course, but one that may be advisable depending on the severity of your symptoms and those of your family, if any. Irish moss is a good substitute, or herbs.
Avoid foods known to trigger itching at this time of year, including melons, peaches and tomatoes.
23. Watch out for tree pollen
Tree pollen is quite difficult to avoid because it is very fine and powdery, and can easily be carried on the wind for hundreds of miles during dry days. Even small amounts can trigger allergy symptoms.
Trees that often trigger allergies include:
* Ash
* Aspen
* Beech
* Birch
* Box elder
* Cedar
* Cottonwood
* Elm
* Hickory
* Mountain elder
* Mulberry
* Oak
* Pecan
* Willow
Large, flowering trees are actually not that much of a risk because the pollen is stickier and does not disperse as far.
The number of trees on your property or in your neighborhood can make a big difference. You obviously would not chop them down, but keeping them well pruned can help.
Avoiding specific foods can help relieve your symptoms. For example, if you're allergic to birch trees, foods to avoid include:
* Almonds
* Apples
* Carrots
* Celery
* Cherries
* Coriander
* Fennel
* Hazelnuts
* Kiwi fruit
* Peaches
* Pears
* Plums
24. Don’t dry clothing and bed linen outdoors
They will accumulate all sorts of pollen. Use the dryer instead.
25. Keep windows closed, especially at night
26. Don’t sleep with your pets
In addition to fur or pet dander often triggering allergies, pets will also bring pollen home with them on their fur and underbellies. Give them their own bed and wash it often.
27. Use natural cleaning products
Try diluting lemon, tea tree or eucalyptus oil with water for a safe and effective cleaner throughout the house. Use diluted bleach on bleach-proof surfaces. Vinegar and baking soda is another easy homemade cleaning recipe.
28. Watch your personal care products
Experts estimate that women are exposed to an average of 60 to 100 chemicals per day, and men to around 40 to 60, mostly through their personal care products. A lot of the chemicals are perfumes, which are not needed and can certainly worsen allergies. They are in body wash, soap, shampoo, deodorant, laundry detergent, and more.
Use mild baby products such as pure Castile soap and laundry detergent. Avoid perfumes, scented household cleaners, air fresheners, and other heavily-scented items. Consider learning how to make your own personal care products in small, fresh batches.
29. Keep blinds and curtains clean
Any allergens that sneak in the windows are going to accumulate on your blinds or curtains. Consider getting vertical blinds so the particles do not accumulate on the slats. Wash the curtains often, or give them up completely in favor of a more modern look.
30. Buy new pillows regularly
Pillows will gradually start to accumulate mold, mildew and dust mites. Avoid feather pillows, which can trigger allergic reactions also.
31. Change your pillow cases regularly
This will prevent allergens from accumulating and worsening your symptoms.
32. Avoid keeping plants in the house
This will reduce potential allergens. Avoid dried flowers and silk flowers, which can trigger allergies and also gather dust.
33. Keep down dust in the home
Anyone with seasonal allergies would benefit from keeping dust down in the home to avoid more allergic reactions.
34. Don’t smoke
You’re exposed to enough allergens without exposing yourself to more than 400 chemicals each time you light up. Your family and friends will thank you as well for not subjecting them to second-hand smoke.
Let's look next at ways to relieve common autumn allergies.
No comments:
Post a Comment