Ah, Spring. Who doesn’t love the warmer weather, the longer days and all the flowers, trees and shrubs coming back to life? Allergy sufferers, that’s who.
Is there any hope? The first thing to do is find out what you are allergic to. Talk with your primary caregiver or an allergist. Both can give you an allergy test.
Once you know what is causing your red eyes and sneezing try these tips from WebMD:
• Consider taking an over-the-counter, non-sedating antihistamine, such as generic Claritin, every morning. If your nose remains congested, add a saline nasal rinse. If these treatments don’t clear your nasal congestion, ask your doctor for other options. Remember, some over-the-counter nasal decongestant sprays can be addicting if not used as a short-term solution.
• Other over-the-counter tools for managing your allergies are lozenges to soothe a sore throat, which can be irritated by postnasal drip from your runny nose, and antihistamine eye drops to relieve itchy, watery eyes.
• Allergens such as pollen tend to stick to fabrics, which means you can deposit allergens from your clothes on your furniture. Wash your bedding, your pyjamas, and your clothes as often as possible to rid them of troublesome allergens during the spring season.
• To enjoy those warm spring days, prevent your allergies before they kick in. Pretreat your allergies with an antihistamine about a half-hour before your day begins to avoid an allergy attack altogether and minimize your suffering.
If your over-the-counter efforts, are not producing results, and you’re still suffering from all the classic spring allergy symptoms, it’s time to see your primary caregiver or an allergist for other options.
