Arizona – If you live in the southern states and you have allergies, you might already be sneezing. According to Dr Bryan Updegraff of Sun City, it will only be downhill from here.
A nice wet winter combined with an early warming trend has resulted in spring pollen arriving early.
Many people with spring allergies don’t make the connection right away. After all, the symptoms of allergies mimic that of colds, including upper respiratory problems like sneezing, congestion, post-nasal drip and coughing.
How do you figure out it’s an allergy? A cold will run its course in 10 to 14 days. If your symptoms are lasting longer than that, allergies are the next likely culprit.
Seasonal allergies don’t just cause cold-like symptoms. Allergies could trigger asthma, hives or other skin problems. So, just because your symptoms don’t include watery eyes or a runny nose doesn’t mean that you are off the hook for an allergy.
Many over the counter remedies will help control symptoms, including antihistamines, decongestants and nasal sprays. Non-drug therapies can be excellent adjuncts to any standard medical treatments. There are sprays on the market that you use before leaving the house to help prevent pollen from making contact with your nasal membranes, thus helping you to avoid the allergen. You can also use the simple but effective nasal irrigation to remove any allergens that may have collected in your airways, and give your body a chance to recover from any exposure.
If you really want to eliminate symptoms, allergy shots are the best option offered by your MD. For best results, any immunotherapy should be started well before allergy season starts, so that your body has built up immunity in advance of any offending pollen drifting your way.
Treatment before exposure is the rule of thumb for every allergic person. You will always do better if you treat before exposure with antihistamine or an avoidance technique, in advance of any known encounter with your allergenic substance.
Arizona residents are already facing tree allergens. In general, trees are early pollinators; the mulberry and olive are already in bloom.
Your best bet for good symptom control, according to Updegraff, is to allergy proof your bedroom. This gives you a chance at a better rest – and a full break from your allergy. Pillows should be dacron or synthetics that will also inhibit mold – another nasty allergen. Bedding should be washable; weekly laundering in hot water is one of the easiest and best approaches to keeping your bed allergen free. Hardwood and tile floors, while cold to the feet, are nicest to your lungs. These flooring options will not harbor allergens and are easy to clean.
Source: Your West Valley with additional reporting from BeAllergyWise
