Tips on Tuesday: Allergy Season is Here

It's that time of the year. I don't know about you, but my seasonal allergies have been worse this year than most years. I've been doing a little research to find ways to help take the bite out of seasonal allergies without all the medications.

I want to say up front that I'm not against medications and we do take allergy medicine as needed by each member of our family. My problem is I fight blood pressure issues and it severely limits my options. I have to try other home-remedies as my first line of defense.

I discovered some things that are pretty easy to do in trying to alleviate symptoms. Hopefully, this information will help some of you as well.

Outdoor Ideas:

• Wear clothes that protect you. Items such as a hat, gloves, glasses and long sleeves will help reduce exposure to pollen when you are working outdoors.

Avoid using wood chips or mulch that can remain wet and invite mold to grow.

Ask a family member who doesn't have allergies (or hire the neighbor kid) to mow the lawn and keep the grass cut below 2 inches.

Keep windows closed during and immediately after mowing.

Limit gardening time to cool or cloudy days in the afternoon or evenings when pollen counts are lower.

Remove dead leaves from your yard or gutters.

Shower after being outside in high pollen times. It washes the pollen residue off your skin.

Change clothing after time spent outside.

Indoor Ideas:

• Pet dander, dust mites, and scented sprays can be common allergy triggers indoors.
• Put mattresses and pillows in airtight covers and wash all bedding in hot (at least130°F) water each week. (I didn't to the airtight covers, but we've purchased allergy reducing pillow covers and mattress covers.)
• Cover air vents with layers of cheesecloth to filter large-size trigger particles.
• Limit use of perfumes and room sprays.
• Limit use of window fans.

For children:

• Store toys and games in plastic bins.
• Wash stuffed animals once a week in hot water.
  

General advice to help manage symptoms:

• Sore throat caused by postnasal drip: Gargle with warm salt water to help ease throat soreness.
• Itching or hives: Avoid further contact with whatever you think is causing the hives.
• Sinus pressure: Using a humidifier at night can help keep sinus passages open and moist to alleviate pressure.
• Saline Spray or Nasal Irrigation (Neti Pot) can help relieve congestion and sinus pressure.
• Itchy eyes can be helped with over the counter eye drops.
• Drink water. Keeping your body properly hydrated helps your body fight off some of the effects of seasonal allergies and helps keep your nasal passages from drying out as quickly.

Good luck managing symptoms this year. I hope each one of us finds a little allergy relief this year.