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How To Make Allergies Feel Better

Reduce Your Reaction To Allergens

Springtime allergies: How to feel better during oak pollen season

Still not finding sufficient relief from seasonal allergy symptoms, and/or have year-round allergies that are very bothersome? You might find immunotherapy useful.

This prescription treatment involves exposing you to ever-larger amounts of allergens, gradually increasing your tolerance.

Traditional immunotherapy is delivered via regular shotsoften for three to five yearsand can help with seasonal and year-round allergens. Over 80 percent of the time, people experience relief, Hong says. The shots carry a small risk of a severe allergic reaction, so youll need to have them in a doctors office.

If your seasonal allergies are to grasses and/or youre allergic to dust mites, you might look into a newer prescription option: sublingual immunotherapy, or SLIT. Here, you typically place a dissolvable tablet containing purified extracts of allergens under your tongue.

Currently, four treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration are available: Odactra, for house dust mite allergies, Oralair, for five different grass pollens, Grastek, for Timothy grass allergies, and Ragwitek, for ragweed allergies.

This is a really good option for people who are allergic to these types of pollen but arent seeing improvement on nasal and antihistamine sprays, or develop other complications from these allergies, such as sinus infections or asthma, Hong says.

When Is Allergy Season

“The allergy season depends on where you live in the United States,” said Wasserman. “Here in Dallas, allergy season begins in late December or early January and really picks up a lot in the middle of February. Most people feel better in the hot summer months when things aren’t pollinating very much. In the north, the season starts later, but the grass season lasts all through the summer because it never gets hot enough to shut down pollination.”

Fighting Back Against Tiny Allergens Before They Strike Can Help You Avoid Or Reduce Symptoms

The spring allergy season begins next month, and if you want to avoid symptoms, you must act now. “Pretreating allergies will lead to better control of symptoms, and maybe prevent symptoms from showing up,” says Dr. Ahmad Sedaghat, an ear, nose, and throat specialist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.

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Reducing Seasonal Allergies: What Helps Alleviate Allergies Fast

After making it through some colder months, seeing your backyard flowers peeking out of the ground can be a welcome sight. Combined with rising temperatures and trees in bloom, you might recognize these as classic signs telling us spring is on the way!

But do you worry about meeting the change of season with a runny nose, itchy eyes, or a scratchy throat, instead of open arms? For many people, the early signs of spring can be telltale signals allergy season is also coming soon. If you need tips for what helps relieve allergies fast, we can help! Youll be able to feel better and enjoy the warmer weather outdoors. And you can even stop to smell the flowers.

Weird Ways To Make Allergies More Bearable

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During allergy seasonor on any pet-filled day of the yearmany people rely on medications or allergy shots to provide much-needed relief. But doctors may also recommend alternative remedies or lifestyle tweaks to deal with allergy triggers.

These options arent necessarily mainstream medicine, but theyre consistent with the evolution toward precision medicine, says Dr. Stephen Tilles, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Were trying to find treatments that work for patients in real life, not just treatments that work for patients on paper. Here are a few lesser-known strategies that may help with itching, sneezing and other allergy symptoms.

Pop probiotic supplements

A recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people with mild to moderate allergies who took Kyo-Dophilusan over-the-counter combination of the probiotics lactobacilli and bifidobacteriasuffered fewer allergy-related symptoms and reported improved quality of life, compared to those who took placebo pills.

Experts believe that probiotics help regulate the bodys immune response to allergens. Were still cautious about making any definite conclusions, but I think its certainly reasonable and safe for patients to try a probiotic and see if it helps, says Tilles.

Try acupuncture

Crank your cars air conditioning

Keep windows closed at home

Apply a cold washcloth

Buy a neti pot

Rest and relax

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What Is Pollen And How Can It Impact Me

Pollen is the material that carries the genetic material of a plant and that’s how plants reproduce.

“Pollen is distributed by wind. Pollens that are distributed by wind are the things that really bother us because it carries in the air and lands in our noses and eyes and causes us problems.” in your area.

Look Into Alternative Treatments

Some allergy sufferers swear by alternative home remedies for seasonal allergies. These include butterbur , acupuncture, spirulina , stinging nettle, eucalyptus oil, and bromelain . There isn’t too much evidence on these treatments, so it’s best to conduct your own research and consult a doctor with any questions.

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Causes Of Pollen Allergies

For all allergies, the immune system reacts to specific allergy trigger molecules . Your immune system produces antibodies that detect the allergen and cause inflammatory reactions and the release of a chemical called histamine. Histamine causes hay fever symptoms, such as itchy and watery nose and eyes, and sneezing.

In Victoria, inland areas tend to have higher pollen counts and northerly winds can bring pollens from inland regions to the coastal areas, including Melbourne. In contrast, the east coast of Australia often has less pollen, because winds tend to blow in from the sea and the Great Dividing Range protects the coast from inland winds. In South Australia and Western Australia, levels of pollen in the air vary, depending on wind direction.

Things To Try If Your Allergies Are Worse Than Ever This Year

“I Want To Feel Better NOW!” Essential Oil Inhaler for Allergies

If youre really feeling it this allergy season, well, gesundheit. From sneezing to congestion to itchy eyeballs to a relentless runny nose, there are plenty of signs that allergy season is upon us and youre unfortunately one of its victims.

There are a host of factors that affect the strength allergy season not just from year to year, but from day to day, saidLuz Fonacier, an allergist and immunologist and president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Among these factors are climate change, rainfall and even wind.

Since so many factors contribute to high pollen counts, its all but impossible to predict how intense an allergy season will be, Fonacier told HuffPost. In addition to taking steps to limit your exposure to allergens that affect you, seeing an allergist before the season starts can also help ensure you find relief.

For many, the last few weeks have been miserable. Before reaching for over-the-counter allergy relief, its important to get a diagnosis, Fonacier said. An allergist has advanced training and experience to properly diagnose your condition, identify your triggers and prescribe an allergy treatment and management plan to help you feel better and live better.

So on your next trip to the pharmacy, be ready. The following tips and items may help mitigate the many annoyances that come with seasonal allergies, so they might be worth a try.

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The Prime Suspect: Inflammation

It turns out that most of these symptoms, including the fatigue, are actually your body trying to help protect you.

Your immune system acts like an army to shield you from biological invaders, the ones armed with spores rather than spears. But the fight is intense and when your body is the battlefield, theres a good chance youll feel it.

When your cellular strike force senses trouble, it responds with inflammation, which requires energy and can leave you feeling drained. It also deploys chemicals called histamines, which add to the fatigue and bring on swelling, itching and sometimes trouble breathing.

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How Do Allergies Cause Fatigue

Yes, allergies can make you feel tired. Most people with a stuffy nose and head caused by allergies will have some trouble sleeping. But allergic reactions can also release chemicals that cause you to feel tired. These chemicals help fight your allergies but also cause swelling of your nasal tissues that can make your symptoms worse. A lack of sleep and constant nasal congestion can give you a hazy, tired feeling.

Experts call this fatigue caused by allergies a brain fog. Brain fog can make it difficult to concentrate and carry out school, work, and daily activities.

If youre experiencing the effects of brain fog, there are some things you can do to feel less tired. First, youll need to stop the cycle of allergy symptoms and fatigue. You can try:

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Sip A Cup Of Green Tea

“Tea, especially green tea, with or without caffeine, is very good for people with allergies,” says Murray Grossan, MD, an ear, nose, and throat doctor in Los Angeles. Tea contains natural antihistamines, he says, which makes it a great addition to your diet to reduce allergy symptoms. Histamine is a chemical that your body releases during allergic reactions. Grossan especially recommends a morning cup of hot tea just when you get up to help prevent morning sneezing.

How To Get Tested For Allergies Causing Fatigue

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As we have discussed above, both seasonal and year-round allergies can cause fatigue. Getting tested is the first step to feeling better if your allergies are triggered by pollens, animal dander, mold, dust mites, cockroaches, weather changes or possibly something else.â

âToday, testing for allergies can be both convenient and accurate. When combined with a detailed medical history, allergy testing can very often identify the specific trigger of your symptoms.âSays Ivor Emanuel, M.D, board certified allergy & otolaryngology specialist.

If your fatigue is caused by allergies, the best treatment is to get your allergies under control. Once you have been tested and have identified your allergies, you can work on avoiding triggers and controlling your environment. There are also other non-pharmaceutical and non drowsy medications available today.

Common allergy tests include:

  • IgE Blood tests â If you have allergies, your blood will contain certain IgE antibodies that show youâre sensitivity to many possible allergen triggers.
  • Skin tests â This involves pricking your skin with a needle to expose you to a small amount of an allergen. If youâre allergic, youâll develop a raised bump on the area of the allergen prick you are reacting to.
  • Physical exam âThere are many physical signs of allergies, from skin irritation to nasal and breathing problems. These may help your doctor diagnose your allergies.

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How To Feel Better During Allergy Season

If you suffer from allergies, you already know the spring and summer months can be particularly challenging. During allergy season, the pollen count is higher, and the days are longer, leading to more time spent outdoors and greater exposure to allergens. Fortunately, there are numerous ways that you can feel better during allergy season.

How Do You Get Tested For Allergies

Different allergens bother different people, so your allergist will determine which test is the best for you.

“One of the simplest, fastest and least expensive allergy tests are skin tests. They take a very dilute solution of the allergic substance and just put it in the very most top layer of the skin,” Wasserman said. “It’s mildly uncomfortable, but the discomfort lasts just a few seconds, and then it’s over. Then it takes about 20 minutes for the skin to react to the allergy test. Then you read the allergy test by judging the size of the mosquito bite-type reaction and typically that goes away in 30 to 60 minutes.”

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Consider Nasal Washing With Sinus Rinses

Sinus rinses are a popular allergy treatment that you can do at home, working well with antihistamines and nasal sprays. The neti pot may be one of the most recognizable sinus rinse products.

A neti pot can be picked up at any local drugstore or online, and typically comes with packets to mix with warm, distilled water to create a saltwater solution. Using the pot to pour the solution through your nasal cavities, you can flush out gunk and allergens to reduce swelling and ease symptoms.

What Exactly Is A Food Allergy

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A food allergy is a full-scale response from your immune system in reaction to a food. In response to the food, the body creates antibodies to fight it.

In food allergies, the symptoms can be quite severe. Anaphylaxis is one of the more well-known symptoms of a severe food allergy. The most common foods that cause anaphylaxis are peanuts, other nuts, shellfish or foods containing sulfites.

In a food allergy, your body produces the antibody IgE. This antibody causes certain cells to release histamine. Histamine is what causes the swelling/inflammation commonly experienced in a food allergy.

Thankfully, not everyone with food allergies experiences anaphylaxis. Symptoms of a food allergy can range from mild to severe, and the amount of food necessary to trigger a reaction varies from person-to-person.

Other symptoms include:

  • Swelling of the airways to the lungs

The way to diagnose a food allergy is through the skin prick test. This is a common test that determines food allergies by identifying your bodys IgE response to particular foods.

Your bodys response to a food allergy is considerably different from the triggering mechanisms found in food sensitivities.

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Tip : Use Nasal Sprays And Steam

For many people, pills will not be enough to manage the many symptoms of seasonal allergies. Nasal sprays, both medicated and nonmedicated, are an important part of managing congestion and post-nasal drip. Nasal steroid sprays relieve inflammation and swelling in the nasal passages caused by allergies. This can help make breathing easier. Saline sprays moisturize dry nasal passages and loosen mucus congestion.

Try a daily steroid nasal spray like fluticasone or triamcinolone acetonide , and consider adding a regular saline nasal spray or a moisturizing spray like Pretz that can be used multiple times per day as needed. Steroid sprays will take a few days to kick in, so consider starting these early along with your antihistamine.

Severe congestion also may warrant the use of steam from a humidifier or steam machine or a neti pot to really clear up accumulation in the nasal cavities and sinuses.

Limit Your Exposure To Allergens

Once you know which allergens are causing your symptoms, you can reduce your exposure to them. For example, if youre allergic to pollen, you can try to stay indoors on days when pollen counts are high.

You can check online with your local weather station to find your local pollen report. You should try to keep your windows closed if you have air-conditioning. If you do spend time outside, its important to bathe and change your clothing as soon as you come inside.

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How To Prevent Allergy

Step one is getting to the source of whats causing your allergies in the first place. An allergist can help you do just that. He or she can perform allergy testing by skin testing or by blood work to help identify any allergy triggers, says Patricia Takach, M.D., an allergist and immunologist with Penn Medicine.

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Once you know whats triggering an allergic reaction, do your best to avoid those substances, says David Corry, M.D., professor of medicine in immunology, allergy, and rheumatology at Baylor College of Medicine. That means taking steps like staying indoors on high pollen count days and making a few lifestyle changes such as showering when you come indoors, cleaning your sheets regularly, and keeping petswho can carry things like pollen and grassout of your bed. Wearing a face mask when youre outdoors can also help filter out pollen and other allergens that may be irritating.

Youll also want to do your best to prioritize sleep to help you recharge at night and keep your bodys immune system in prime working order, Dr. Wada says.

Make drinking water a priority, too. Staying well hydrated can help thin out mucous and also help with some aspects of fatigue as well, Dr. Wada says. The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommend that men aim to take in 15.5 cups of fluids a day and that women strive for 11.5 cups a day.

How to treat allergy-related fatigue

Consider Apple Cider Vinegar

Natural Allergy Relief

Apple cider vinegar is purported to boost the immune system, help break up mucus, and support lymphatic drainage. Experts recommend mixing one to two tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with a glass of water and lemon juice three times a day to relieve allergy symptoms. These tips on how best to use apple cider vinegar will provide additional guidance.

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Ten Ways To Control Allergies Without Medication

The best way to control allergies without medication is to avoid them altogether, but thats not always possible, or realistic. Some allergens like pollen are tiny, which means they can travel long distances and cover a lot of ground, surfaces, skin and hair. So, unless you have severe allergy symptoms that require medication, there are a lot of ways you can alleviate your symptoms and get back to doing the things you love, including:

  • Saline nasal irrigationA nasal rinse clears mucus from your nose and can ease allergy symptoms. Not only can it reduce nasal drip, but it can also wash out any bacteria or allergies youve inhaled.
  • HEPA filtersA high-efficiency particulate air filter is a mechanical filter that works by forcing air through a fine mesh that traps harmful particles like pollen, pet dander, dust mites and tobacco smoke. Replace HEPA filters monthly for best results.
  • Try ProbioticsProbiotics may help reduce allergy symptoms when taken during allergy season. Some strains of beneficial bacteria have been shown to regulate t-cells , which can help produce a stronger immune response to common allergens.
  • Take vitamin CVitamin C acts as a natural antihistamine by reducing the amount of histamine your body produces in response to an allergen. It might help reduce mild symptoms like congestion, runny nose, sneezing and watery eyes. The recommended dose is 2,000 milligrams per day.
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