Breeze Through Spring Allergy Season

Millions of Americans are keeping their tissue boxes close by as the spring allergy season is hitting sufferers hard this year.

But there are much more effective ways to stave off the itchy, watery eyes, sneezing and other related symptoms. One of the most effective is to start taking medication prescribed by your doctor before your symptoms begin. Another is to avoid potential triggers.

If you haven’t yet started your medication, it’s not too late, but you may have to wait a week or two to feel their symptom-relieving effects.

Seasonal allergic rhinitis or “hay fever” affects up to 40 million Americans. Of those, up to 80 percent have difficult sleeping, which can lead to daytime fatigue and reduced productivity at work or school.

To reduce your exposure to the things that trigger your allergy symptoms:

·      Stay indoors on dry, windy days. The best time to go outside is after a good rain, which helps clear pollen from the air.

·      Delegate grass cutting, weed pulling and other gardening chores that stir up allergens. If you have no choice, wear a dust mask to perform outdoor chores.

·      Remove clothes you’ve worn outside. You may also want to shower to rinse pollen from your skin and hair.

·      Never hang laundry outside. Pollen can stick to sheets and towels.

·      Keep windows closed at home and in the car to limit exposure to allergens.

·      Keep nasal saline (salt water) spray around to rinse out your nasal passages two to three times a day. Avoid nasal saline rinses within an hour of taking a medicated nasal spray, however. Nasal saline is not a medication, but it may enhance your management of allergy symptoms when taking other allergy medications.

As for medications, there are several types that can ease allergy symptoms. These include:

Oral antihistamines. Antihistamines (e.g., Claritin, Zyrtec) can help relieve sneezing, itching, runny nose and watery eyes.

Decongestants. Oral decongestants in either pill form or nasal spray can provide temporary relief from nasal stuffiness. Only use nasal decongestants for short-term relief. Long-term use can actually make symptoms worse.

Nasal spray. Cromolyn sodium nasal spray can ease allergy symptoms and doesn't have serious side effects, though it's most effective when you begin using it before your symptoms start.

Combination medications. A number of allergy medications combine an antihistamine with a decongestant. Examples include Drixoral and Claritin-D.

For more information or a referral to an allergist or ear/nose/throat specialists on staff at Ingalls, call Ingalls Care Connection at 708.915.CARE (2273).