According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, “An allergic reaction can cause coughing, sneezing, hives, rashes, itchy eyes, a runny nose, and a scratchy throat. In severe cases, it can cause low blood pressure, breathing trouble, asthma attacks, and even death if not treated promptly.”
To prevent both mild and severe symptoms of allergies, follow our list of do’s and don’ts below.
Do
When it comes to your allergies, do:
- Avoid outdoor activities in the mornings. Because pollen counts are highest in the morning hours, you should try to stay indoors if possible. This is especially important on windy days. If you want to go for a run or mow the lawn, do so in the evening.
- Keep your house clean. You’ll experience fewer symptoms if you keep a clean house. This means vacuuming, dusting, washing your bedding in hot water, bathing indoor/outdoor pets and throwing out old food at least once a week.
- Take over-the-counter medications during an allergy attack. You can find antihistamines such as Claritin, Zyrtec and Allegra as well as nasal sprays like Flonase, or the off-brand counterparts, at Delta Pharmacy.
- Try a saline spray or rinse. If you’re experiencing congestion in your nose or sinuses due to your allergies, a great remedy is to try a saline nasal spray or do a saline nasal rinse using a Neti pot to flush everything out.
Don’t
When it comes to your allergies, don’t:
- Open your windows. This is especially important during allergy season, particularly in the early morning hours. Instead, run a central or portable air conditioning unit to get some airflow and filter out allergens.
- Try cold remedies. While symptoms may seem similar, the two conditions have very different causes and treatments. Avoid over-the-counter cold relief if you know your symptoms are caused by allergies.
- Be patient. Some medications need to be in your system a while in order to be effective. In addition, if you’re undergoing immunotherapy, it could be a few months before you start experiencing noticeable relief.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Charleston ENT & Allergy today.