Spring has sprung and everywhere you look there are trees with new leaves, beautiful flowers sprouting out of the ground and birds chirping their goodbyes to winter. However, if you suffer from allergies, spring isn’t such a pretty picture – it’s more of a nightmare you can’t escape.
It means that you’re going to go through some suffering for the next few months. Your head is going to hurt, eyes are going to water and ears are going to itch. You add boxes of tissues and cases of allergy meds to your grocery list because you know what lies ahead and there’s nothing beautiful about that.
Living with allergies is tough. But, how do you survive spring without finding yourself spending the next few months in complete and total misery? Try these tips and hopefully you’ll find some relief headed your way:
Keep your windows closed
Of course, the one thing you’re going to want to do to ease your suffering is to keep the allergens as far away from you as possible. The best chance you have of doing this is to keep your house locked tight so they can’t get in.
Although it’s tempting to want some fresh spring air after having nothing but cold weather for so long, you’re better off keeping your home as closed off as possible. At least wait until your trouble-causing allergen is past its peak before you consider opening your windows and airing your place out.
Turn on the humidifier
The reason allergens can be worse in drier climates is because there isn’t any rain to drop the allergens from the air to the ground where they are less of a problem. But, just because it’s dry outside doesn’t mean that it has to be dry inside.
Turn on your humidifier and the moisture in the air will reduce the number of allergens that may possibly cause you problems. Just make sure you don’t overdo it as too much moisture is breeding ground for mold, which doesn’t help allergies either.
Buy an air purifier
Another way to clean the air is to buy an air purifier. It removes dust and allergens from the air you breathe, meaning you take in fewer particles that may possibly be an issue for you.
Keep it in your bedroom so you get quality air when you’re sleeping. Or, if you work from home, you may want to place one in your work space. The purer the air you breathe, the fewer allergens your body will have to work to fight off – giving you more peace and comfort in your nasal cavity.
Use a neti pot
Neti pots can be very intimidating at first. After all, who likes the idea of shooting water up one nostril only to have it flow out the other one? It can create feelings and visions of drowning, which is something no person in their right mind would ever want to do intentionally.
However, if you can get past the idea of how it works, it’s actually quite soothing. The warm water feels great in irritated nasal passages and it effectively removes the allergens that are causing you issues. Not to mention that it’s just a salt water solution so there are no toxic chemicals or unnatural substances with unpleasant side effects.
You can find neti pots at most pharmacies or retail outlet stores at reasonable prices. They also have syringe type solution alternatives too.
Take an over the counter allergy medication
Sometimes you need something a little more powerful to help you deal with allergens and there are several over the counter medications to choose from. Most have antihistamines to deal with the irritation and inflammation that allergies create.
The one thing to consider is whether the medication will make you drowsy. If so, you may want to limit it to bedtime only. Or, you could always take half doses to get some relief but still be able to function throughout the day.
Drink a lot of water
One of the best things you can do for yourself during allergy season is to stay hydrated. The more water you drink, the more mucus your body is able to make. And, the more mucus you make, the more capable you are of ridding yourself of those pesky allergens that want to make themselves at home in your body.
Aim for at least 6-8 glasses of water a day. If you don’t like the taste of plain water, you can always add fruit slices to it for some additional flavor without added calories or sugar. Some great ones to try are oranges, lemons and limes.
Have some apple cider vinegar too
Although apple cider vinegar has been touted for its many health (such as keeping blood sugar more stable for diabetics, lowering blood cholesterol and pressure and even fighting off cancer), it also benefits you when it comes to allergies. How?
Take a teaspoon of straight vinegar and what happens? Your eyes water, nose drips and your sinuses clear, right? All of these things help flush the allergens out of your body.
You can add it to a glass of water and drink it that way or just take a sip straight out of the bottle if you can stand it. Either way, your body will surely respond.
Eat spicy and/or hot foods
Just as apple cider helps to get your nasal cavity running, so too will spicy or hot foods. Whether you eat a bowl of piping hot soup or enjoy a spicy pepper filled burrito, you’re probably going to need a tissue before it’s all over.
Again, the more you can get your nose to flush the toxic allergens out itself, the better off you’ll be. It’s both natural and effective, getting you immediate results with minimal side effects (other than the sweating you may do from the heat).
See a doctor
If you’ve tried to reduce your contact with allergens and still haven’t found relief, it may be time for a doctor’s visit. You may need specialized treatment to keep your allergies from getting worse or it’s possible that an infection has set in.
So, schedule an appointment if you feel it’s necessary. It’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your body’s health and wellness.
Allergies can be a drag, but there are lots of things you can do to make them more tolerable. Try a few of these today and hopefully you’ll breathe better tomorrow.
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