Spring of 2010 is shaping up to be one of the worst allergy seasons in years. "We're seeing people come in who are complaining of feeling run-down and tired," Dr. Stanley Fineman of the Atlanta Allergy and Asthma Clinic told ABC News. "They're sneezing. Their eyes are itching. Some people are coughing. They are really affected by the pollen."
In many areas, a later spring than usual has caused many plants, which normally bloom at different times over a period of weeks, to blossom at the same time, creating a perfect pollen storm and causing a wave of stuffy, swollen sinuses and itchy, watery eyes.
"Seasonal allergies affect all parts of the upper respiratory system plus the eyes," Dr. Marvin Lipman, chief medical adviser at Consumer Reports, said in a statement. "There's usually no single magic bullet."
Hay fever is a common springtime allergy and can make sufferers more prone to sinus infections, eye infections, sleep apnea, bad breath, and sore throats, and make asthma more difficult to control. Further, inflammation associated with allergic rhinitis opens the body to attack by viruses.
Fortunately, if you suffer from springtime allergies, there are ways you can lessen your misery. The American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) and Medical News Today offer the following tips to help you find relief during the next few weeks:
1. Stay indoors. It may sound obvious, but it's important to avoid going outside during peak pollen times — usually between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., according to AAAAI. Up-to-date pollen information can be found at the AAAAI Web site. Go Here.
2. Take your meds. Use over-the-counter antihistamines for relief, and take them at least 30 minutes before venturing outdoors. If things get too unbearable, check with your doctor.
3. Spring clean. A thorough spring cleaning will eliminate much of the mold and dust that has accumulated over the winter.
4. Dry laundry indoors. Even if you love the smell of sheets and towels dried on an outdoor line, use the dryer instead so they won't collect pollen.
5. Skip the breezes. Shut windows and doors, and don't use fans that bring pollen inside. Use air conditioning if possible.
6. Sleep allergen-free. Once a week, wash all bedding in warm water.
7. Drive pollen-free. Close your car's sunroof and windows, and keep the top up on convertibles.
8. Wear a mask. Wear a pollen mask if you garden, mow the lawn, or have to be outdoors during a high-pollen time.
9. Pollen-police your pets. If your pets go outside, keep them off furniture and bathe them frequently to eliminate the pollen they bring inside.
10. Forgo a morning shower. Instead, shower and wash your hair at night to send the day's collection of pollen down the drain before bedtime.
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