Seasonal allergies
"I have been diagnosed with seasonal allergies but the medications are not working. Is there anything I can do that will help me control my sniffling, sneezing, and teary eyes?"
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Allegra, Clartin, and Zyrtec have been effective for many seasonal allergy suffers so if those medications aren't working for you, there are some other things you can try. First, notice when your allergies are at their worst. Second, know the things you are allergic too so you can try to eliminate them from your life. Third, keep the air in your home as clean as possible.
Allergy Season
Depending upon the things you are allergic too, it is important to prepare for that time of year. For most allergy suffers, it begins in the spring when the grasses, trees, weeds, and flowers are at their worst. The spring and the fall are the worst seasons for most people so you need to keep allergy medication with you in case you suddenly have an allergy attack. Plan your vacations around your allergies as it's important not to go to the southern states when the trees start pollinating.
Allergy triggers
Once you know what triggers your allergies, it's easy to find a way to treat them. Pet dander may be your culprit so steer clear of your friend's homes that have animals. The reason why you have allergy attacks is because your body thinks the spores from plants and other things are attacking the body so it automatically sends its defense mechanism to start fighting. Watery eyes, sneezing, sniffling, and dealing with all of those lovely symptoms are actually good, even though they really don't seem like it. Most allergy suffers have symptoms within 5 minutes of exposure to the allergen and they subside within about an hour to four hours.
Cleanliness
To control the problems you have with allergies, cleanliness is a big part of it. The medications can try to help the symptoms, but if you can keep the triggers far away from you, it will be easier for you to get on with your day-to-day life. Vacuum twice a week to remove the dust mites and pet dander that is embedded in the carpet. Dust often and use natural cleaners that will not irritate the mucous lining in your nose. Wear a mask when you clean if you notice your allergies flare up when you clean.
An air purifier is a great way to treat your allergy symptoms. The air purifier will catch the dust mites, pet dander, pollen, and other things that are floating around in the air. This way you won't breathe them in, causing you to have an allergic reaction. Keep Benadryl handy as it's one of the best over-the-counter allergy medications to quickly treat seasonal allergies. Benadryl often causes drowsiness or sleepiness so it's important to be careful what time of day you take it since it can be difficult to work or drive. It usually works much faster against bad allergy attacks compared to other allergy medications that are used mostly to prevent allergy attacks from happening.
Use a humidifier in your home, especially when you sleep as it will help you breathe easier. The humidity helps to keep the mucous membranes moist, allowing them to catch the pollen and dust mites so you don't breathe them in and start dealing with the sniffling and sneezing that comes along with allergies.
If you tend to suffer from seasonal allergies most of the year, you should talk to your doctor about receiving allergy shots. Allergy shots will make you less sensitive to the effects of pollen and other allergens. You will need to receive regular allergy shots for 3-5 years in order for your body to gradually build a tolerance to common allergy triggers.
Some people have also found that the nettle helps to control allergy symptoms. Nettle works great for itching and sneezing and swelling that accompany allergies. Nettle is completely safe to take and most allergy suffers report an improvement in their condition.
