AP – Allergy season can bring misery to many people each year. Tree, grass, and other pollens can cause runny noses, itchy eyes, coughing and sneezing.
Where you live and what you’re allergic to can make a big difference in how bad your allergies are, but there are many things you can do to feel better. Here are some tips from experts to keep allergies at bay – maybe even enough to allow you to enjoy the outdoors.
WHICH POLLENS CAUSE ALLERGIES?
There are three main types of pollen. Tree pollen is the main culprit. After that grasses pollinate, followed by weeds.
Some of the most common tree pollens that cause allergies include birch, cedar, cottonwood, maple, elm, oak and walnut, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Grasses that cause symptoms include Bermuda, Johnson, rye and Kentucky bluegrass.
TRACK POLLEN LEVELS, THEN PLAN YOUR DAY
The best and first step to controlling allergies is avoiding exposure. That’s easier said than done when it’s nice out.
Start with keeping your windows closed at home and in the car, avoiding going out when pollen counts are highest and changing clothes when you get home. The same masks that got us through the pandemic can protect you from allergies – though they won’t help with eye symptoms.
Pollen trackers can help with planning.
HOW TO RELIEVE ALLERGY SYMPTOMS
You can’t fight an enemy you don’t know. Since many are allergic to several things at once, the first thing to figure out is what specifically you’re allergic to, said alergist in the Dallas-Fort Worth area Dr Nana Mireku.
Over-the-counter nasal sprays can help relieve symptoms, but they take a while to kick in, so it’s best to start them in early in the season, said allergist Dr Rachna Shah and director of the Loyola Medicine Allergy Count.
Antihistamines are another option. Shah said she’s seen some patients benefit from switching to a similar brand if one stops working, but said that there isn’t much broader data to back the recommendation.
For young children and people who have to take many different allergy medications, immunotherapies in the form of shots and oral drops can help desensitise the immune system to allergens, treating symptoms at their root. – Devi Shastri
