Spring is a wonderful time of the year. Beautiful floral blooms and lush greenery give the world a fresh, vibrant look that bids goodbye to the cold winter scenery. However, it is also the period where pollen count reaches a high. This means staying indoors for millions of individuals who are sensitive to these airborne allergens.
Although spring is the most mentioned season for allergy attacks, the truth is that the symptoms are magnified in spring but can actually stretch until summer and fall too. If you are seeking seasonal allergy relief, staying indoors is not your only option.
There are other practical measures that you can take. Some of the most common ones are covered here.
- Detect the symptoms. The first step to finding relief begins with awareness. The symptoms mimic those of a regular cold: a sneezing fit, a runny nose and itchy, watery eyes that are sensitive to the light. Allergens such as pollens and spores irritate the membrane linings of the nose and eyes. Recurrence of these symptoms within noticeable schedules should clue you in that maybe you have seasonal allergies.
- Survey your place. Sometimes, your location may be a bigger culprit of the allergy than a particular season. Hay fever, for instance, can be a year-round dilemma if your home is sited in a grassy and tree-lined area.
The grass may harbor mold spores, which can trigger allergic reactions. Several trees within the same vicinity can also take turns in releasing pollens. Examples of such trees include alder, elm, juniper, maple, oak, olive and sagebrush. - Monitor pollen counts. Some websites offer free pollen count readings. Take advantage of them. On days forecast to have high pollen count, you can then take preventive measures by opting to stay indoors and shutting your windows close, or by wearing glasses and a mask when heading outdoors.
- Take medication. Some over-the-counter drugs are available in the market, but it’s always best to consult your physician first. You can fight your rhinitis with antihistamines, and if your blood pressure is regular, you can simply take a decongestant such as pseudoephedrine.
- Get professional diagnosis and advice. There are many variations of a seasonal allergy. A doctor’s diagnosis will confirm which type is afflicting you and how you can find temporary relief. Hay fever, rhinitis and conjunctivitis are the most frequently diagnosed. These conditions can escalate to asthma, atopic keratoconjunctivitis, blindness and even death.
Some allergies may seem to come and go, but they don’t deserve to be treated lightly. When left to run their own course, they can pose a grave danger to your health and your overall life expectancy. If you have the condition, make seasonal allergy relief your lifelong crusade.
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3 Responses to “Seasonal Allergy Relief: Why You Should Expect the Worst at All Times”
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Hi Mikki;
I just read your excellent article and I so agree with what you are saying about some allergies can cause problems in more than just the most popular one of Spring. I am recently dealing with an old friend I haven’t had to deal with for years.
When my children were small I used to have severe allergy attacks in February of all times. Snow covered trees made no difference. I was often bed bound. And with 3 small children this is no fun. The area we lived in was just on the edge of a forest. I found out later that it was the Tulip Trees just behind our home that were the culprit.
Moving across town helped relieve the symptoms for a while. But it actually took moving out of the state to a dryer climate to completely alleviate the problems.
I moved back to WV this month and find the allergies back heavier than ever. I certainly hope to find the source and relief soon. I’ve heard it said that allergies have a 7 year cycle.
Have you ever heard of this?
I look forward to reading your posts. Thank you for this informative site.
Sally
Publisher, nature-and-flower-pictures.com
What a great resource!
Hello Sally and thank you for your comment. I’m sorry to hear that your allergies have returned to haunt you daily activities again! You are wise to look for the culprit so you will be to remove it, hence find your relief again. Unfortunately for you this may be the end of winter….On the bright side, that time is drawing near.
I have heard of the 7 year cycle many times but have not found any solid evidence for it. I myself don’t seem to enjoy the luxury of a break every 7 years
Instead my allergies are a year round job!
What I have learned is that our bodies store allergens until they build up, leading to an allergic reaction as a result of our immune systems failing to properly clean them out. It has been researched and documented that someone suffering from environmental allergies can relieve symptoms by eating specific foods and taking specific supplements on a daily basis.
If we adjust our diets to include some of those foods unintentionally, or like your situation move away from the cause then our symptoms are relieved.
Additionally when you understand how the body works when exposed to allergens a “7 year cycle” may seem to be a possibility, since our allergic reaction only occurs after a consecutive exposure.
In many cases people suffering from allergies will have a change in lifestyle, i.e. less stress, eating healthier, ect. and incidentally will aid their body’s immune system in removing allergens. On the other extreme a person’s lifestyle may change to include higher stress levels, illness or poor eating habits that will incidentally increase allergy sensitivities.
Perhaps this is where the 7 year cycle comes into play? If you have any references on the 7 year cycle that you would like to share please do so. I would love to read more about it.