Taking the Zing Out of Spring Allergies

Spring is here – and so are spring allergies. If you’re feeling spring’s allergy effects, you may want to read these tips below to help reduce your symptoms:

Palm Trees in Malibu. Photo by Carole Jakucs, May 2015. Image subject to copyright.

• Wash your hair often to remove pollens
• Wash your bedding (including pillow cases) in hot water once per week to reduce the dust mite population and remove pollens too (think of your pollen laden hair on your pillow case).
• Stay indoors when the pollen counts are high.
• Keep your windows closed when the pollen counts are high.
• Get HEPA filters for your home to reduce the amounts of pollens, mold and dust in the air.
• Run the air in your car for a few minutes with the windows open. This will help reduce the amount of airborne irritants inside your car from the vents and send them to the outside.
• Try nasal saline sprays to help remove mucus and irritants from your nose. The saline also helps to reduce swelling inside the nasal passages.
• Use over the counter (OTC) medications as needed to treat your symptoms. Follow all package directions. Antihistamines help with the symptoms of sneezing, runny nose and itching. Decongestants help lessen the swelling of a stuffy nose. Mucolytics help to loosen and thin out mucus in the nasal, sinus and chest areas.
• Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and help keep your mucous membranes moist and fluids moving.
• Consult with your physician/healthcare provider for any persisting or worsening of symptoms.

Control Your Allergies by Controlling Your Environment

Spring is here for allergy and asthma sufferers due to high pollen counts in many parts of the country. Take a few steps to control your environment to help reduce your exposure to allergy “triggers”. This will also help to reduce the severity of your symptoms. Here are 10 helpful tips:

1. Stay indoors and keep your windows closed when you can if pollen counts are high.
2. Wash your hair more frequently to remove pollen and dust that settled on your hair after being outside. This is also important on windy days.
3. Vents/air conditioning in cars can hold a lot of pollen, dust and mold particles. If you have to turn it on, don’t allow it to blow directly at your face; direct/angle the vents away from you.  Keep the windows open for a several minutes to let any airborne contaminants out of the car.
4. Invest in HEPA filters; one for every room in your house is ideal.  However, if you cannot afford that, purchase at least one for your bedroom. Follow the manufacturer’s directions regarding filter replacement and operation of the unit(s).
5. If you work in an office that has carpeting, and, or unfiltered air, consider purchasing a HEPA filter to keep at your workstation.
6. Encase your mattress and pillows in allergy prevention/proof “encasements”.  Doing this reduces the number of dust mites that live in your pillows and mattress. Dust mites are unrelated to pollen counts, however, reducing your exposure to all possible allergy producing culprits (AKA triggers), will help you overall. Many people with allergies are allergic to dust mites too (in addition to pollens).  Follow the package directions for your encasements regarding washing instructions and life expectancy. Replace them as per the manufacturers recommendation and, or,  if they look torn and worn.
7. Avoid perfumes, colognes, aftershave, nail polish and false nails. These can exacerbate symptoms for allergy and asthma sufferers. Many people are allergic to these products and don't even know it. Use fragrance free facial and body products whenever possible.
8. Try to live in a house or apartment that has hard wood floors.  Carpeting harbors dust mites, molds, dirt and various irritants that spell trouble for people with allergies and asthma.
9. If you have pets, keep them out of your bedroom and off of the furniture to reduce your exposure to animal dander.
10. Wash all your bedding once per week in hot water.  Hot water helps to reduce the number of dust mites in your bedding. Use only fragrance free laundry detergent and static prevention tissues.

For more tips on reducing allergy symptoms, see this link: http://carole-jakucs.blogspot.com/2012/03/attacking-spring-allergies-with-nasal.html

Attacking Spring Allergies with Nasal Irrigation and Rinsing

Spring Pollens are already upon us, coming earlier this year than expected. Try nasal irrigation or rinsing to help keep your allergy and sinus symptoms under control. The advantage of doing this is that it is natural and drug free, using only sterile water and a prepared salt (saline) mixture to help clear and soothe your nasal and sinus passages, by reducing swelling and removing mucus.

• Nasal Saline Irrigation: Consider irrigating your nasal passages once a day, at a minimum if you are experiencing nasal and, or, sinus symptoms. Two types of irrigation systems are available. One consists of a “plastic bottle with a cap and tube”, the other is a “neti-pot” (which looks like a small tea pot).  Both provide for a thorough irrigation. Use one that contains "prepared mixture packets" to be used with either Distilled Water or previously Boiled Water. *Use sterile water only. Never use tap, lake, ocean or dirty water for any nasal irrigation bottle or neti-pot usage. Contaminated water (including tap water) can cause infections and death in extreme cases. 

Warm water works the best as it helps to loosen nasal and sinus mucus and calm swollen nasal passages. Be careful that the water is not too hot; you do not want to burn your nasal passages or any other body part. Also, do not irrigate without the salt (saline) as doing so with only plain water, will sting your nasal passages and increase swelling.

Follow the package directions diligently regarding usage and contraindications (who and when you should not use it) and cleaning of the unit/system. These must both be thorough cleaned properly after each use and also allowed to air dry.

• Nasal Saline Rinsing:  This comes prepared as a “mist” in a small sterile metal bottle/can. This is quick and easy to use since no preparation is required. Also, the can/mist set up does not allow you to inadvertently aspirate your nasal mucus back in the bottle, keeping it clean inside. Clean the tip and top of the unit after each use.
• More on Nasal Rinsing: Other saline nasal rinsing products come in a plastic squeeze type of bottle.  There are many brands on the market. These are smaller, plastic bottles and easier to carry, however: *Be careful not to suction/aspirate any of your mucus back into the bottle. If this occurs, germs from your nose will go into the bottle. The can cause an infection and make you sick if you use a contaminated bottle. As with the other units above, clean the tip and top of the bottle after each use.

For more tips on controlling your allergy symptoms, see this link: http://carole-jakucs.blogspot.com/2012/03/control-your-allergies-by-controlling.html

*Contact your doctor for any questions or concerns you may have about your health.