Living with Hayfever
The day is coming when you may be able to say goodbye to hay fever for good. The last couple of years have seen remarkable advances in immunotherapy. Instead of multiple visits to your doctor for shots, you can take dissolvable tablets and drops at home. They were recently approved by the FDA for grasses and ragweed, and it is anticipated that, eventually, all seasonal allergies will be treatable in this manner. The treatments have the potential to permanently change your body’s response to allergens but may take about 5 years to work.
Until that happy day, there are other things you can do to find relief for your stuffy nose, itchy skin, and irritated eyes. In fact, most individuals can manage their symptoms by avoiding common triggers and irritants. Keep reading to learn more about your lifestyle and medical options.
Facts about Hay Fever:
Did you know that having asthma, eczema or a family member with the condition increases your risk of seasonal allergies? More than 40 million Americans suffer from allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever!
Despite the name, hay fever usually has little to do with hay or fever. It’s an allergic sensitivity to plant pollens, mold spores, and other substances. It can be seasonal or year-round. Identifying the cause of your allergies can help you avoid them.
Typical signs and symptoms of seasonal allergies include a runny nose, itchy eyes, and sneezing. Hay fever can also disrupt your sleep and interfere with your concentration. It can often look like a cold or other viruses, but there is no fever associated with it.
Living with Hay Fever:
Stay indoors. Check the weather forecast for the pollen count and stay indoors during peak hours, especially if it’s windy. If you must go outside, protect your eyes with wrap-around sunglasses, and keep your car windows rolled up. Fresh air is great for our health, but keep your house windows shut when pollen is in the air.
Clean up. Fight mold by scrubbing any damp areas in the kitchen and bathroom with warm water and vinegar. Contrary to popular belief, bleach does not kill mold. Do your due diligence to prevent mold from taking over your home. If you go outside, wash pollen off your face and hands when you come in.
Groom your dog. Actually, ask someone else to brush him. Pet fur traps pollen so keep your pets trimmed and bathed.
Adjust your diet. Some studies suggest that yogurt and other probiotics reduce inflammation. On the other hand, raw fruits like apples and melons may aggravate symptoms because your body mistakes their proteins for pollen. Pay attention to how your body responds to what you eat.
Drink water. Substitute seltzer for your evening cocktail. Water thins mucus while alcohol dehydrates you. Drink non-caffeinated herbal teas for added benefits.
Avoid smoke. Cigarette smoke tends to make any allergy worse. The same goes for other airborne irritants, from perfume to car exhaust. Consider adding an air purifier or houseplants to your home to help improve air quality.
Slow down. Are you feeling weak and irritable because your symptoms are keeping you up at night and adding to your stress levels? Find some quiet time to rest, and be extra careful while driving or operating heavy machinery.
Treating Hay Fever:
Experiment with home remedies. Each body is different, so experimenting with safe remedies is always helpful to see what works for you. Some home remedies to explore are nasal irrigation, butterbur, quercetin, and bromelain, to name a few.
Try corticosteroids. Most experts agree that nasal corticosteroids are the safest and most effective treatment for hay fever, especially if you start taking them at least a week before the pollen season starts. Plus, spray formulas help to prevent the side effects associated with taking steroids by mouth or injection.
Use other drugs. There are other drugs that can help if you’re unable to take corticosteroids or need additional help. Your doctor may recommend prescription or over-the-counter antihistamines and decongestants. Talk with your allergist if you experience excessive dryness or drowsiness or your antihistamine doesn’t seem to work as well as it used to.
Consider immunotherapy. Immunotherapy may be the answer if your allergies are severe or you’re not responding to other treatments. It’s currently being used for grass and ragweed allergies only, but relief for other allergens could be on the way.
Talk with your doctor if you think you might have hay fever or other allergies. Your physician can help you decide whether immunotherapy or simple home remedies can help you breathe better and feel more energetic.
