via ABC

by Dr. Asma Khan

Spring has sprung, and we are all eager to head outdoors and enjoy the warmer weather. However, for people with allergies, this often isn’t possible without sniffling, sneezing, and itchy eyes. Whether it’s tree pollen, weeds, pets, or mold, we need to understand what’s causing our allergies, and how to keep them under control.

What’s Making You Sneeze?

Pollen grains are the tiny cells that are needed to fertilize plants, and it’s likely that they are causing your springtime misery. These pollen grains, produced by trees, grasses, and weeds, are very small and very light. They are designed to travel on the wind up to 100 miles from their original source. Different people are sensitive to various kinds of pollen, but it’s not a surprise that hay fever or spring allergies typically flare up on windy days.

How to Control Your Symptoms

• Reduce your pollen exposure. Staying indoors between 10a and 4p, when pollen counts are generally higher, can help. Try running errands or exercising outside in the early morning or late afternoon and remove your shoes before going inside so you don’t track in pollen
• Spring cleaning. Fabric-covered furniture and pillows can all contribute to allergies. Do a top-to-bottom inspection of your house to clean out spots where allergens can congregate, such as bedding, rugs and carpeting, damp spots, and mold in the bathroom and kitchen. It’s also important to keep your air conditioning and furnace filters fresh
• Avoid dust mites. Using mite-proof impermeable mattresses and pillow covers can be an effective way to reduce symptoms
• Shower before bed. Washing your hair and skin before bed removes pollen and reduces overnight irritation
• Eat the right foods. Powerful antioxidants found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and green tea help battle inflammation from inside your body. Try eating foods rich in omega-3s as well, such as fish, tofu, and spinach
• Reduce stress. Every time you feel stressed, your body releases stress hormones that send signals to different parts of your body to prepare for action. If you don’t physically release the stress, it can affect the safeguard of your health, the immune system. A weakened immune system means a higher chance of allergic reactions

What You Need to Know

Treatment for allergies should always be based on the severity of your symptoms and can differ from person to person. Educating yourself on your condition is key so you can avoid known allergens.

The most effective treatment is intranasal corticosteroids (nasal sprays) and should be the first-line therapy for persistent symptoms. Severe allergies that do not respond to intranasal corticosteroids should be treated with antihistamines, decongestants, or other treatments such as cromolyn, leukotriene receptor antagonists, or nonpharmacological therapies, such as nasal irrigation.

Don’t let your seasonal allergies keep you inside this spring! Talk with your doctor about which allergy treatment is right for you.

Asma Khan, MD, is the Clinical Director at HRHCare Urgent Care, 84 N Highland Ave between High Street and Sickles Ave in Nyack. Along with offices in Haverstraw and Spring Valley, the facility is part of the 28 health center HRHCare network in the Hudson Valley and Long Island providing comprehensive primary care.

See also:

• Beware Impetigo, AKA “School Disease,” 3/10/2019
• Everything To Know About Concussions, 2/17/2019
• Why Pneumonia Is A No-No, 1/12/2019
• Everything To Know About Knee Pain, 12/9/2018
• The Down and Dirty on Flu Season, 11/18/2018
• How to Avoid UTIs, 10/18/2018
• How to Know If Chest Pain Means Heart Attack, 9/10/2018
• Back to School Check-ups Are Essential, 8/18/2018
• How To Keep Your Skin Safe During Summer, 6/24/2018
• How to Know if You Have Asthma, 5/13/2018
• What to Know About the Impetigo Skin Infection, 3/18/2018
• How to Know If You Have a Concussion, 2/24/2018
• How to Prevent and Cope with Back Pain, 12/17/2017
• The Lowdown on Sexually Transmitted Infections, 9/24/2017
• The Ankle Heal: Sprained Ankles 101, 8/20/2017
• Pneumonia: What To Know, What To Do, 3/14/2017