More than 100 million people in America suffer from allergies. As a result, allergies are the sixth leading type of chronic illness in the US. Various allergens cause many kinds of allergies, but looking at seasonal allergies alone, specific allergens trigger this reaction. In March and April, tree pollen is the most common cause of allergy, while grass pollen is the leading factor in June and July. While in the fall, Ragweed and Mold cause people to sneeze and have runny noses and teary eyes. This is an absolute nightmare for people living in the southeastern region of the US, especially in places like Atlanta.
It is estimated that nearly 40% of Atlanta is covered by a tree canopy, resulting in a high diversity of trees and a more extended pollen season. According to a report published in 2022, Atlanta’s pollen count was 987, the highest pollen count in the year. So in such circumstances, how do you take care of your allergies? Here’s what you need to do:
Look Into Functional Medicine
The changing weather and seasons cause seasonal allergies. When you get exposed to any allergen like mildew, dust, or pollen, it can cause your immune system to overreact. In places like Atlanta, the fall season from mid-September to late October is hard for those with fall allergies since ragweed and mold are in a frenzy and are highly airborne. Once you inhale this air, you may experience sudden nasal congestion, irritated eyes, and get headaches. These are a nuisance and can push you to check in with a doctor, but conventional medicine cannot always help.
You need functional medicine that involves in-depth testing, assessment, and analysis from a reputed Atlanta healthcare center offering personalized care. They can determine the root cause of your allergies and make a customized treatment plan for you. This is an upgrade from conventional medicine since regular hospitals can only prescribe anti-allergens to treat your condition, which can lead to unwanted side effects.
Start Using Nasal Sprays and Steam
Nasal sprays and steam can help manage your seasonal allergies. Using a nasal spray that uses steroids, you can combat the inflammation lining your nasal passages caused by allergies, making breathing easier. If you’re hesitant about medicating yourself, you can use saline sprays to moisturize your dried-out nasal passage, which can loosen the mucus buildup, making it easier to clear it out.
When it comes to steroid nasal sprays, it may take a few days for the medication to kick in, so it’s best to start the minute you feel your allergies kicking in. In case of congestion, you may need a steamer or humidifier; the warm evaporated air can moisturize your lining and help tackle the mucus. Neti pots are convenient to clear your sinuses; this apparatus helps drain mucus by allowing water to flow through your nasal passage.
Keep Your House Clean and Stay Indoor
According to Kleenex, grass pollen peaks in southern cities like Atlanta during February, March, and April. On days when the pollen count is high, you should stay indoors and keep all your doors and windows shut. If you have a pet like a dog, ensure someone else cleans them outside, like your partner or the dog sitter, before allowing them back into the house. It would help if you trained your pet not to come near your room during allergy season to minimize your allergic reaction.
Animal fur is an excellent medium for pollen to stick to, which means your pet may have lingering residue on them that can flare up your allergies. It would help if you tried to keep your house as clean as possible. This is also a good time to change your air filters and ensure you use extremely thin ones that trap most particles and dust. Also, turning on your dehumidifier can help maintain the moisture levels in your house. If you can’t clean your house, purchase a robot vacuum cleaner and let the machine handle all the cleaning.
Use Eye Drops
Eye drops can help with lubrication and tear production. The water in your eyes can wash away pollen and dust lingering around your water lining. Hence you will feel much better after using eye drops. However, before using eye drops, observe how your eyes react to the allergens. If your eyes are itchy and producing too many tears or excessively getting dried, use eye drops containing antihistamine. You can also use regular lubricating drops to alleviate the symptoms.
But if you plan on using a combination of lubricating and antihistamines, don’t use them together; space their usage so that your eyes don’t sting after administering your medication. If you aren’t comfortable with eye drops, apply a wet washcloth to your eyes, which can also be soothing to your swollen eyes.
Try Home Remedies
Herbs like ginger are excellent anti-inflammatories. You can make ginger tea and consume this warm beverage on bad allergy days.
Other remedies include using honey, as it can calm down your allergies. You can choose to have a spoonful of warm honey, dissolve it with a beverage of your choice, or drink it with your tea. Essential oils like peppermint and eucalyptus can also soothe your allergies. You can use an essential oil diffuser, but if you plan to use them directly on your skin, dilute them first.
Final Thoughts
Allergies are a nuisance, but if you have seasonal allergies, you’ll need to tackle them every year whether you like them or not. You must gear up during allergy season if your immune system reacts strongly to pollen, ragweed, and mold. This process involves taking precautionary measures to ensure your allergies don’t worsen.
You may need to see a healthcare professional and get a tailored healthcare plan that suits your needs. Other measures include ensuring your house is clean and sticking to home remedies so that you can soothe your symptoms without the added side effects. There’s no right or wrong way to handle your allergies; all you have to do is ensure your method is effective against your symptoms.