Seasonal Allergies
Seasonal allergies come and go at a certain time every year. However, they don’t have to ruin your life. You can manage the impact of seasonal allergies in your life by controlling and reducing your exposure to the allergens. With seasonal allergies, the allergens appear during a certain season, for instance, pollen that can cause eye irritation or asthma in Leesburg. Seasonal allergies can be minimized through limiting time outside, keeping your home and your body clean, and wearing respiratory masks. It can be treated through eye drops, nasal rinses, and other medication.
Reducing Allergen Exposure
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you should always check forecasts on the internet, TV station, radio station or local newspaper. You need to be ahead of the times and know what to expect so that you can prepare sufficiently. These resources keep you informed about things such as pollen forecasts, and the current pollen levels so that you can plan your daily activities according to how much is in the atmosphere. If pollen counts are high, take your allergy medication before leaving the house.
The best way to minimize your seasonal allergy symptoms is to avoid allergens by any means. If the forecasts predict a high pollen count, don’t spend a lot of time outside, especially between five in the morning and nine in the morning, when most plants are pollinating. If you have to go outside when the pollen count is high, ensure you wear a respiratory mask. A standard respiratory mask will help filter out the air thereby reducing the amount of pollen you inhale. Ensure the mask is firmly fitted onto your face. Wear a mask if your allergic to grass and you need to mow. Pollen can also stick to your hands during the allergy season, thus ensure you wash them often, to prevent them from getting into your respiratory system. Use a mild soap and water.
Treating Symptoms
When suffering from a seasonal allergy, it would be helpful to understand your condition further, especially what is causing the allergic reaction and how to best handle it. A board-certified allergist can perform an allergy test on you and help you pinpoint your specific issue and how to handle it. Make an appointment with an allergist so they can prescribe the right medication for you. Medication such as inhalers can only be issued through a prescription, and you’ll need the help of an allergist. The allergist will give you medication that’s better than over-the-counter drugs, which specifically target your allergies.
If you experience itching, runny nose, or watery eyes, an oral antihistamine can help. They include cetirizine and loratadine. You can also use decongestants to help provide temporary relief from the nasal congestion experienced by many allergy sufferers. Common decongestants include phenylephrine. Use nasal decongestants sparingly as regular use might worsen your symptoms. Try rinsing your nasal passage using a saline rinse to help relieve nasal congestion. It can be purchased online or at a local drug store. Ensure you only use sterilized water to create a saline flush. If your eyes are irritated by seasonal allergies, leaving them red and itchy, use eye drops that are specially formulated for allergies. You can use them twice a day if you need to. Talk to you allergist about prescription-strength eye drops.