‘Tis the season for pumpkin spice and everything nice. Well, unless you’ve got seasonal allergies. The beautiful fall weather in many parts of Texas can be hard to enjoy if you suffer from seasonal allergies and you're not alone! According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, more than 50 million Americans have allergies. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to lessen the impact of allergies on your life. In this blog post, we'll share some tips and tricks for surviving allergy season.

1.   Start with Prevention

The best way to deal with allergies is to prevent them from happening in the first place. That means keeping windows closed and using air conditioning in your home and car. You should also avoid being outside during peak pollen hours (usually early morning and late evening). And if you know you're going to be exposed to allergens, take an antihistamine beforehand.

2.   Know Your Allergies

If you're not sure what you're allergic to, see an allergist for testing. Once you know what causes your symptoms, you can take steps to avoid those triggers. For example, if you're allergic to tree pollen, try to stay inside or take an antihistamine on days when the pollen count is high. Pollen counts are usually highest on dry, windy days. You can check the pollen count for your area online or on most weather apps.

3.   Try Natural Remedies

There are some natural remedies that can help relieve allergy symptoms like congestion, runny nose, and itchy eyes. Saline nasal spray or nebulizers can help clear out your nasal passages and make breathing easier. And a neti pot can flush allergens and irritants out of your sinuses. Just be sure to sterilize your equipment before each use!You can also take advantage of the anti-inflammatory properties of ginger by drinking ginger tea or taking a supplement. And cold compresses can help soothe itchy, watery eyes. Just put a clean washcloth in cold water and apply it to your eyes for a few minutes at a time

4.   Change your clothes after being outdoors and vacuum regularly.

A clean house is a happy house—or in this case, a non-allergic house. We love spending time outside when the weather is nice, but it's important to change out of your clothes as soon as you come inside to avoid tracking pollen into the house. Also, vacuuming regularly will help remove pollen from your floors, and dusting will get rid of any pollen that's accumulated on surfaces like tables and shelves. Bonus points if you use a vacuum with a HEPA filter, which can capture smaller particles like pollen.

5.   Get prescription strength antihistamines.

If you're feeling particularly symptomatic, see your provider for prescription strength antihistamine. Schedule a visit with our providers for personalized care to help get through this season.

 

Allergy season can be tough, but we hope these tips will help you get through it with minimal discomfort. Remember to see your doctor if your allergies are severe or if over-the-counter medications aren't providing relief—they may be able to prescribe something stronger. Wishing you all the best during allergy season!