Prepare for Spring Allergies: Common Causes & Ways To Relieve Symptoms
If you find yourself dreading spring because of the sneezing, sniffles, and stuffiness that the season brings, you’re not alone. According to the CDC, seasonal allergies affect 24.4 million Americans every year.1 And the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reports that allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S.2 Symptoms vary person to person, but typically include:
- Runny nose and nasal congestion
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Cough
- Sneezing
- Itchy nose, roof mouth, or throat
- Dark circles under eyes
- Postnasal drip
- Fatigue
These symptoms occur when the immune system overreacts to a harmless substance like dust or pollen by producing antibodies to protect itself. Spring allergies, also known as hay fever or allergic rhinitis, can be bothersome, but they can also be managed, especially if you take action early. Here’s how to prepare for spring so you might stop to smell the flowers instead of dreading their arrival yet again.
Start Your Allergy Meds Early
Instead of waiting until you feel at your worst, try starting your allergy medication early. Most allergists agree that spring allergies usually spring up in early March and last until May, which means you should start taking allergy medication around two weeks before they attack. Keep in mind that popular antihistamine medications like Claritin and Zyrtec may cause undesirable side effects like drowsiness, dry mouth, nausea, and dizziness and have harmful interactions with some antibiotics, antifungal medications, and acid-reducing drugs.
Choosing a homeopathic alternative like Brillia Health products allows you to relieve allergy symptoms before they start in the most gentle and impactful way possible. One of Brillia Health’s active ingredients is lapine histamine immune globulin, an antibody targeting histamines, which your body releases when sick or having an allergic reaction. Brillia Health’s histamine antibody binds to its target and prevents inflammation, efficiently reducing sinus and chest congestion at the source of symptoms. Other targeted antibodies found in Brillia Health’s Cold-Flu Recovery product target immune cells, helping to boost your body’s immune response to minimize secondary infections given that the body is under stress from battling allergies. Because Brillia Health products are composed of antibodies, and not harsh, synthetic chemicals, they will not interact with any other molecule in the body, ensuring you will not experience any harmful side effects or contraindications.
Monitor Pollen Counts
Tree and grass pollen are the usual triggers for spring allergies. Be sure to check out the pollen counts before you head out for the day, which may indicate whether or not you’re likely to have a reaction. It’s also useful to track when your allergy symptoms tend to show up so you can recognize any patterns. It’s best to stay inside during peak pollen hours on days with high pollen counts, which is usually mornings and evenings.
Shower After Being Outdoors
Taking a shower after being outdoors ensures that you’re washing away all the pollen that’s stuck to your hair and skin from being outside. It’s also a good idea to get in the habit of washing your clothes after being outside because pollen tends to stick to clothing, too. If you don’t take a shower before hopping into bed, you also run the risk of transferring all that pollen to your bedding, making laundry day even more of an effort.
Change Filters
When doing your spring cleaning, don’t forget about your air filter. It’s best to change your air filter seasonally to keep the air inside your home clean. Some allergists even recommend changing filters every 20-45 days to play it safe.3 Changing your air filter rids your home of lingering pollen, dust, bacteria, and other contaminants.
Get an Air Purifier
Designed to remove contaminants from the air, an air purifier is a smart investment for anyone seeking allergy relief. Not only do air purifiers remove pollen from the air in your home, but they can also remove mold and pet dander, which can also trigger allergy symptoms. The best type of air purifier for allergies is a HEPA filter, which has been proven to filter out particles as small as 0.3 grams.4
Talk to Your Doctor
If your allergy symptoms occur like clockwork every year, talk to your physician as early as you can for more ideas on how to cope and find allergy and sinus relief in the way that’s right for you. They may run a series of tests to determine which specific allergens are triggering your symptoms so you can best avoid them. Or they may recommend other allergy treatments for severe cases. Leading a healthier lifestyle is also a good rule of thumb, such as eating nutritious food, hydrating often, and making sure you get enough sleep. Just don’t forget to shower before you hit the hay.
Check out the Brillia Health blog for more ideas on how to keep your immune system healthy all through spring season and beyond.
