Many people are looking forward to spring when they can finally put away their bulky coats and enjoy warmer temperatures.
Sadly, the beginning of spring is also the beginning of allergy season when plants release pollen and people start to sneeze, itch and experience sinus pain.
When is Allergy Season?
Although the term allergy season is thrown around a lot, there really isn’t a specific season when everyone’s allergies flare up. Nevertheless, most people experience allergic reactions during peak pollination season which goes from late February to November. And depending on the weather conditions, the allergens may remain in the air much longer.
The immune system recognizes allergens as harmful and reacts by releasing histamines into the blood. It’s these histamines that trigger the classic allergy symptoms such as runny nose and itchy eyes.
How Do You Know if You Have Allergies?
Typical allergy symptoms include sneezing, coughing, runny nose, watery eyes and dark circles under the eyes.
If you have these symptoms speak to your doctor so he or she may refer you to an allergist for a skin or blood test. For the skin test, the allergist pricks the skin and injects a small amount of the diluted allergen into your skin. If you are allergic to that substance, a small hive will appear.
Managing Your Allergies
The best way to manage your allergies is to minimize any triggers in your environment. For instance, the surest way to avoid an allergic reaction during allergy season is to avoid going outside! Obviously this is not a good option for most people and it isn’t much fun (it’s not healthy either).
Here are some tips to help manage your allergies without having to avoid the outdoors.
To reduce pollen exposure, change your clothes and take a shower as soon as you get home. This gets rid of all the pollen in your hair and on your skin.
Dust mites are another huge allergen. You can reduce them by vacuuming regularly. Also, keep the carpeting in your home to a minimum, invest in dust-mite proof pillows and mattress covers, and clean the air conditioner filter before allergy season starts.
Allergy Medication
It is not possible to completely avoid exposure to allergens but there are ways of managing your allergies to minimize allergic reactions.
Allergy shots help desensitize your body to the allergens. This way you can enjoy life without having to worry about avoiding the triggers. Antihistamines, on the other hand, prevent your immune system from overreacting to the allergens.
It is possible to manage seasonal allergies so they don’t disrupt your lifestyle. Reducing your exposure to allergens and talking to your doctor about allergy shots and medications should make life in the coming weeks more fun and enjoyable.
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