Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Health & Wellness

Seasonal Allergies

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 10am and 4pm 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

Seasonal Allergies: 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. Education on your condition is key so you can avoid known allergens. 

The most effective treatment are 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.

Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by Sun River Health. Sun River Health is a network of 43 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) providing primary, dental, pediatric, OB-GYN, and behavioral health care to over 245,000 patients annually.


Nyack People & Places, a weekly series that features photos and profiles of citizens and scenes near Nyack, NY, is sponsored by Sun River Health.


You May Also Like

Arts

Rockland Public Art Dedication On Monday, September 30, the Rockland County Art in Public Places Committee dedicates a new sculpture, “Hedan,” created by the...

Arts

What the Imagination Seizes at Perry Lawson Fine Art Perry Lawson Fine Art is pleased to present What the Imagination Seizes, an exhibition featuring...

Arts

Final Weekend of the Phoenix Ensemble Theater The 2024 Phoenix Festival continues with live theatrical performances running through this Sunday, September 22, and offering...