Simple Dos & Don'ts For Allergy Relief

For most of us who suffer from seasonal allergies, they usually seem to come out of nowhere. One day you're breathing freely and then the next day you're sneezing, coughing and itching your eyes, searching for a potential remedy.

We've put together some helpful dos and don'ts that will give you your best chance at limiting your allergy symptoms.

What Are Allergies?

First, let's look at why you experience allergy symptoms during certain times of the year. Allergies usually show up during the fall and spring months, which is one of the ways you can tell allergies from more serious illnesses.

Common symptoms for allergies are runny nose, itchy or watery eyes, scratchy throat and headache. These are caused by a reaction in your immune system to things it thinks are harmful to your body. There are some allergies you have from birth while others may develop over time.

The best way to avoid seasonal allergy symptoms is to avoid what causes them. This means avoiding the pollen of certain plants like weeds, trees and grass. You can also find relief in some over-the-counter medications or at-home remedies.

Dos and Don'ts

No matter how you try to beat allergies this season, here are some things you should do and some things you shouldn't do to get relief:

• Do: Keep your windows and doors closed to keep pollen outside of your home. You should also consider using high-quality air filters in your home if you have an air system, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy (AAOA). HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters have been shown to reduce allergy symptoms.
• Don't: If you're gardening or landscaping, avoid choosing plants that are wind-pollinated. Instead, choose plants that are pollinated by insects. These include lavender, peonies and sunflowers.
• Do: Shower and wash your clothes after returning home from outside. This can help reduce the amount of pollen present in your home. Plus, regularly washing items like your bedsheets has other health benefits, too.
• Don't: You shouldn't avoid getting your daily exercise in during allergy season. Studies have shown that exercise can help with respiratory allergy symptoms and reduce inflammation. The AAOA even has some tips to consider if you're looking to exercise outdoors.
• Do: Limit your time outdoors when the pollen count is high to limit your exposure. However, this should be done along with the other "Dos" above as limiting exposure alone may not reduce your symptoms. There are many tools that you can use to track pollen counts, including most weather apps and air quality trackers.

If you use over-the-counter medications to treat your allergy symptoms, be sure to discuss your options first with your primary care provider. For anyone wondering if your symptoms are from allergies or a cold, we have developed a guide to help you learn the difference.