Dear allergy symptoms: we don’t want you here.

15 Apr Dear allergy symptoms: we don’t want you here.

Last year a well-known OTC allergy medicine was promoted with a television commercial that probably resonated with many Americans. In the commercial, fear struck a woman sitting in traffic with her car top down, when she heard the familiar roar of a riding lawn mower. As panic ensued and she tried desperately to get her top up before the mower, puffing out bits of grass and dust from all sides, reached her vehicle, but with no success before erupting into a fit of sneezes. And we’re in that time of year again.

What can we do, as residents in one of the most pollen-laden areas of the country, and with forecasters declaring this year to be one of the worst yet due to the extended winter we just left behind? Though they may be inconvenient and not always fun, there are ways to proactively combat allergens in the spring, aside from relocating to a different state.

• If you haven’t already, start taking an OTC allergy medicine if you know you will be effected by seasonal allergies.
• Keep your windows closed. Don’t forget your vehicle windows.
• Stay indoors when the pollen count is high (as reported by your local weather outlet).
• Change clothing after coming in from spending time outdoors.
• Shower and shampoo every evening to prevent spreading any pollen to your bed and pillow.
• Wear a dust mask when cleaning and doing outside chores like mowing, sweeping or using a leaf blower.
• Keep your laundry indoors. Pollen can attach to fabrics and enter your home that way.
• Leave your footwear at the door so you don’t track allergens throughout the home.
• Consider using a saline nose spray or rinse at the end of the day to give your nasal cavity an extra cleaning.

If it’s too late and you’ve already joined the allergy sufferers club this season, there are more choices than ever of effective decongestant nasal sprays over the counter to help open up your passages and soothe from irritants. Think about continuing on your allergy medicine throughout the duration of the season. And keep up the saline treatment, considering using a Neti Pot or similar item. Ask your doctor or nurse practitioner for suggestions on this, and for ways you can manage your symptoms. The staff at SouthernCare is here to help!