Fight Allergies With A Pro
Logging hours at the gym and eating your vegetables aren’t going to cure or completely prevent seasonal allergies. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can certainly minimize the effects of allergy symptoms though, as well as a host of other conditions. “If someone is in great shape, exercises, and does all these great things, they can withstand the impact of allergies better than someone who’s got all kinds of other problems,” Dr. Mardiney noted. One word of caution, though: If you are sensitive to outdoor allergens like pollen, you may want to take your exercise routine indoors when levels are at their highest, or take your allergy medication before you start out.
Think Twice About Using The Clothes Line
The warm, fresh air of Spring compels a lot of seniors to wash clothes and hang them outdoors to dry. If you are dealing with allergies, try to avoid this and continue using the dryer. As the clothes sit outside to dry, they collect all of that pollen and dust floating around in the air, therefore, you will end up wearing them and bringing them inside with all the rest of your clothes.
Wash Clothes After Going Outside
Mold and pollen spores attach to your clothes, and you need to get rid of them before you track them into your house. Take off your clothes as soon you get home and shake them off outside, on a porch, or in the yard. Wash clothes with an anti-allergen detergent, or regular detergent and a bit of bleach. Dry your clothes in a dryer. Hanging them outside may attract pollen.
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Natural Remedies For Seasonal Allergies
At this time of year, many people are suffering from seasonal allergies. The symptoms can include itching, sneezing, congestion and runny nose, headaches, red or watery eyes, and so on. They can vary from mild to severe, acute to chronic.
Seasonal allergies, sometimes referred to as hay fever, result from exposure to spores or pollen released into the atmosphere by fungi, grasses, trees, and other plants. That plant material is mistaken for an invasive protein by your bodys immune system, leading to the production of chemicals like histamine. Histamine attempts to attack or expel the invader, resulting in the bothersome symptoms described above. Those who experience seasonal allergies are also intolerant to certain foods which they cannot easily digest. The poorly digested food is often regurgitated back into the respiratory tract leading to many of the allergy symptoms noted above. The big food culprit is dairy products followed by eggs, poultry, red meat, bread/wheat, certain nuts, and alcohol. With the immune system becoming increasing compromised with continued consumption of the biggest food culprits, the person become more sensitized to other food triggers and environmental triggers.
1) Hydration through Water
When the respiratory and digestive systems are dehydrated, the immune system will cause a rebound effect leading to nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and/or coughing. Do the following in order to optimize your hydration:
2) Saline nasal rinses
- wounds
When All Else Fails For Allergy Relief
Sometimes, even the strongest immune system falls victim to seasonal allergies that leave a trail of mucus in their wake. When this happens, you may find the most surefire way to fight allergy symptoms is through good old-fashioned allergy medication, either prescription or over-the-counter. “The proper drugs can diminish and block the expression of allergic disease,” Mardiney said. “There’s a lot you can do for allergies.”
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Minimize Your Allergen Exposure
Doing so can go a long way towards keeping your symptoms from flaring up in the first place.
If you usually work out in the morning, consider switching your workout to later in the day. Pollen counts are highest in the AM, and despite what you might think, exercising in the evening wont wreck your sleep.
- Take your shoes off outside, and change your clothes as soon as you come in the house.
- Stop allergens from floating indoors by keeping the windows shut.
- Wash your sheets in hot water at least once a week to get rid of allergen buildup. If you have indoor/outdoor pets, it might be best to give them beds of their own during allergy season.
- Shower at night to wash allergens off of your skin and hair before you go to sleep.
- Consider investing in an air purifier to keep your indoor air as clean as possible.
Warnings And Side Effects
Only use distilled water or boiled water for nasal irrigation. There have been cases of amoeba infection due to the use of contaminated tap water in nasal irrigation. Also be sure to clean the device after each use. It’s best to wait an hour or more after nasal irrigation before going to bed, to be sure the saline has drained completely from your sinuses and to prevent cough.
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Treating Allergies On The Skin
For allergic reactions that cause skin symptoms, including those associated with allergens found in animal saliva, poisonous plants, drugs, chemicals and metals, additional treatment options include:
- Topical corticosteroid creams or tablets. Corticosteroids contain steroids that reduce inflammation and itching. Mild forms of these creams can be found online, and a doctor can prescribe stronger versions.
- Moisturizing creams. Emollient creams with soothing ingredients, such as calamine can treat skin reactions.
- Bite or sting medication. Medication targeted to reduce allergic reactions to insect bites or stings have a similar effect to other allergy medications.
- Ice pack. Applying an ice pack wrapped in cloth to the area for 10- to 15-minute intervals can reduce inflammation.
Fight Allergies With A Laugh
The results aren’t definitive more studies need to be done but research indicates that humor may increase immune function by increasing levels of immunoglobulin A , a protein found in your eyes, ears, mouth, throat, and nose that protects against infection. So go ahead and rent a funny movie or visit a comedy club with friends anything that gives you the giggles may help you feel better.
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Natural Remedies For Allergy Symptoms
If you need to take something for your allergy symptoms, medications are most likely to help improve your symptoms. Several drug classes work to relieve allergy symptoms, including antihistamines, decongestants, and glucocorticoidsthese have the best evidence of effectiveness in clinical trials.
With that said, there are alternative treatments and natural allergy remedies you can consider. While some of these things have some supporting evidence and/or studies that show efficacy, its hard to say 100% whether they will actually work.
Natural Remedies For Seasonal Allergies And Advanced Health
Advanced Healths integrative approach to medicine incorporates the practical, mechanical knowledge of more conventional western medicine, but also explores the more natural, supportive knowledges from eastern sources.
At Advanced Health, we generally hold that the least invasive path to wellness is preferable, and were very much in favor of treating seasonal allergies naturally.
Has this summer got your eyes watering, and your nose running? Why not book a consultation with our integrative functional medicine physician, Dr. Payal Bhandari M.D. She will treat the source of any condition, including seasonal allergies. Contact Advanced Health today, and get yourself on the path to ease, symptom relief, and lasting wellness.
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Natural Remedies To Improve Allergy Symptoms
Allergies are caused by the immune system overreacting to typically harmless substances in the world around us. Several medications can help, but some people prefer to try natural remedies for their allergies. While some natural treatments have data behind them that suggest their effectiveness, its hard to say definitively whether they will actually work. Several natural remedies for allergies have the potential to cause allergic reactions themselves.
How To Relieve Allergies Naturally
Keepthe fall allergies away with safe and natural medicines
Many people link theseasonal allergies to the spring time of the year when many plants arepollinating. However in many cases the allergy symptoms of the runny nose,itchy and red eyes, itchy throat, sniffing and sneezing are even worse or onlystart in fall when the weather is cool and the leaves are falling. Fall allergyin majority of the cases is the cause of other problems including sleep disturbance,decreased productivity, lack of concentration, and continuous tiredness at workor school.
Plants usually pollinate 3 timesa year in Spring, Summer, and Fall. In each season certain types of plants aregrowing and pollinating. Trees pollinate in the spring, In the summer and morespecifically in the beginning of it, grasses are pollinating, and in late summer into fall weeds pollinate.
One of the major causes ofallergies in fall is Ragweed. Each ragweed plant can produce billion pollen inone season. It grows vastly and its light weight pollen can travel miles away.This has made this plant the major cause of outdoor fall allergies from latesummer to mid fall.
Another contributorto fall allergies is mold. Molds are growing everywhere and in soil. Especiallyin fall when the leaves cover the ground, molds grow on them. Molds producespores dominantly from mid fall to late fall. Mold spores are the next commoncause of fall allergies after ragweed.
Reference:
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Ten Ways To Alleviate Seasonal Allergies Without Medication
When your immune system overreacts to an airborne substance that doesnt bother everyone around you, you have allergies. Pollen, dust mites, pet dander, mold spores and insect stings are the biggest culprits of seasonal allergies.
Increased pollen counts and higher temperatures across the globe are contributing to longer and more severe allergy seasons. This means many people whove never had an issue before are experiencing seasonal allergy symptoms for the first time. However, because these symptoms are so similar to the common cold, many just assume theyve caught a bug. If this sounds familiar, the best way to tell the difference between allergies and a cold is whether you have a fever. If youve been feeling unwell for 7 days or longer without a fever, you are probably suffering from seasonal allergies.
When you seek medical treatment for allergy symptoms, your doctor will typically prescribe medications or injections to help you feel better. But the good news is that there are a lot of things you can do at home to alleviate seasonal allergies without medication.
Protect Your Kid’s Eyes
Itchy, red, teary eyes are one of the most aggravating symptoms of allergies. The itch stems from inflammation of the mucous membrane covering the whites of the eyes and inner eyelids. The fix: Keep pollen away from your child’s face. Edith Schussler, M.D., a pediatric allergist at Weill Cornell Medicine, in New York City, advises wearing sunglasses and a hat with a brim. Kids touch their face all the time, but with these accessories on, your child will be less likely to rub their eyes.
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Do Natural Remedies For Seasonal Allergies Work
If you have mild allergy symptomsmeaning it feels like you have a slight cold but youre not 100% miserablethen trying certain natural remedies for seasonal allergies at home may be worth a shot before you turn to allergy medications. Here are some common ones to consider:
This is an important one! Understanding the cause of your symptoms plays a vital role in seasonal allergy management, according to Beth Corn, MD, associate professor of medicine and clinical immunology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She recommends getting a skin allergy test if possible. There are numerous allergy tests, but the common skin prick test involves scratching or poking your skin with the various allergens and waiting to see if you develop a reaction, such as redness, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It takes a minute, and within 15 minutes you know what you are allergic to, Dr. Corn tells SELF. Once you have this information, you can do your best to minimize contact with your personal allergy triggers.
To do this, keep your windows closed and, if its too warm, use air conditioning to stay cool if you can. We know this is a bummer, but letting air in also invites allergens into your homewhich is exactly what you dont want. Be sure to also check your window sills and frames for condensation, which can contribute to mold growth.
Use Saline Spray Or Steam Inhalers
Saline spray clears the nasal passageways like a neti pot, but its thoroughly sterile and you throw it away after youve used the entire container. It clears allergens and mucus, and you dont need to clean it after each use just cap it and store it.
Steam inhalers also clear up nasal congestion and allergens. There are hand-held and tabletop models. You fill a compartment with filtered water, plug in the device. You press your mouth and nose into a plastic shield or hover your face over the top of the inhaler to breathe in steam. The steam will loosen mucus and help you breath easier.
Some inhalers have a compartment where you can add essential oil. Using eucalyptus oil or other helpful oils will increase the effectiveness of the steam.
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Natural Remedies To Ease Seasonal Allergies And Sleep Better
Most people wait all winter for spring to finally arrive. Unless, of course, you have seasonal allergies. Memorial Day Sale Award-Winning Mattresses 15,000+ Reviews Shop Our Mattresses It can be
It can be tough to enjoy the pretty flowers, golden sunshine, and warmer temperatures when youre blowing your nose every 30 seconds and dealing with puffy, irritated eyes.
Plus, seasonal allergies and sleep dont exactly go hand in hand. So in addition to feeling sick, youre also likely exhausted. Fun, right?
To make matters worse, many medications arent all that helpful. Sure, theyll stop you from turning into a human faucetbut they often come with the price of feeling like youve spent a week in the desert without any water or with disorienting drowsiness.
Natural Ways To Defeat Allergies
Keep allergies at bay with the following tips:
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Does Butterbur Help Allergies
Butterbur is made from a flowering plant which has been used for thousands of years to a variety of health ailments.
According to Professor David Rakel, MD, of the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Butterbur capsules have the BEST track record of all herbal supplements in helping maintain and regulate a healthy pollen tolerance.
Rakel goes on to say Butterbur is the Singulair of the herbal world, I think of all the allergy supplements, it has the best evidence behind it.
WebMD claims that Butterbur may be just as effective in treating allergy symptoms as Allegra or Zyrtec. If you are looking for the 1 thing to try in learning how to cure allergies naturally, this could be it!
The Reviews on WebMD also support that many are finding Butterbur effective in managing allergy symptoms.
Want the best Butterbur Capsules on Amazon?Vitanica Butterbur Extra has almost 5 stars, 0 1-star reviews , and also contains ginger and feverfew both of which help promote lower levels of inflammation and headache support.
Tuna Salmon And Other Fish With Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Salmon and other fish with Omega 3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation. Although you can take Omega 3, or fish oil capsules instead, youll reap more benefits by eating fish. Omega 3 fatty acids lead to better eosinophil function. Omega 3s strengthen the lungs and helps prevent sneezing, coughing, runny noses and other allergy symptoms.
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When Allergies Become Chronic
With repeated exposure the inflammatory response becomes chronic. A 2008 journal article on the development of allergic inflammation explains this systemic allergic response as:
Persistent inflammation induced by prolonged or repetitive exposure to specific allergens, typically characterized not only by the presence of large numbers of innate and adaptive immune cells at the affected site but also by substantial changes in the extracellular matrix and alterations in the number, phenotype and function of structural cells in the affected tissues.
In other words, the misery allergy sufferers feel is very real and more than a case of the sniffles!
Allergy testing may be helpful to determine triggers but typical treatment usually involves routinely taking an antihistimine or corticosteriod which can have undesirable side effects. There are two main ways to help stop allergies naturally:
