Living with Seasonal Allergies

For at least 35 million people in the US springtime brings more than beautiful weather. It also brings sneezing, congestion, and watery eyes. About 16.7 million doctor visits are attributed to allergic rhinitis, more commonly called hay fever, each year.

The pollen from trees, flowers and weeds are among the culprits that cause seasonal allergies. When these allergens are inhaled by someone who is sensitive to them the mucous membranes become inflamed causing the sneezing, congestion and runny nose so many seasonal allergy sufferers are accustomed to. These allergens can also aggravate asthma, causing the passages in the airways to become inflamed and swollen and making it hard to breathe.

Having seasonal allergies doesn’t sentence you to a life spent indoors, however. There are some things that you can do to minimize your exposure. Weed pollen is one of the most aggravating allergens during spring and summer and since they pollinate at sunrise and sunset, when air currents turn over, try doing your outdoor activities during mid-day and late afternoon. It’s also a good idea to check your local pollen count daily, you can visit http://www.pollen.com/Pollen.com.asp and search by zip code.

Dr. Bill Lumry, a board certified specialist in Internal Medicine and Allergy and Immunology, offers the following tips for managing your allergies:
To keep pollens from sticking to you, don’t hang clothes and/or bed linens outdoors on a clothesline.
While on road trips, keep car windows closed and use air conditioning instead .
Wash your hair before going to bed to rinse out the outdoor pollens that have accumulated during the daytime .
Eliminate weeds from your yard - they can aggravate late summer and fall allergies.
Avoid touching your eyes and nose while in the garden or yard as this transfers pollens directly to those sensitive areas .
Plant less allergy prone plants such as: azalea, begonia, bulbs (tulip, iris, poppy and daffodil), palm, pine, fir and dogwood trees, hibiscus, boxwood, yucca shrubs and Irish moss.
Take advantage of rainy, cloudy or windless days, which usually have lower pollen counts .
Although many people don’t realize it, seasonal allergies aren’t the result of pollen alone. Mold can also wreak havoc and, unlike pollen, it is found both indoors and out. Mold can grow almost anywhere that dampness is found. Some of the most common areas include bathrooms, attics, carpets, and upholstery.

The first step in the battle against household mold is to remove it. In most cases using a strong bleach water solution works, but if you’re allergic you may want to wear a paper face mask while cleaning. It’s not attractive, but it will keep you from inhaling spores that escape into the air.

As much as you may love your indoor carpeting it is the perfect breeding ground for mold and if you’re allergic, it needs to go. It’s also very important that you change or clean the filters in your heating and cooling systems often. If dampness is a real problem in your home you may want to invest in a de-humidifier to remove the moisture from the air that creates an ideal environmnet for mold to flourish.

There are a seemingly endless number of choices when it comes to treating allergies, from Benadryl to Claritin to allergy shots. These medications do treat your symptoms, but Dr. Fred Pescatore, author of The Allergy and Asthma Cure, believes that eating correctly is the most important thing that you can do. “It is important to keep your internal environment as healthy as possible and to do that, one must eliminate simple carbs as much as possible since they decrease the immune system’s effectiveness.” According to Dr. Pescatore one teaspoon of sugar decreases your immune system’s effectiveness by 56%, two teaspoons by 78%!

You should also make an effort to increase your intake of healthy fats. “Using the right type of fats in the diet is essential. Monosaturated fats like those found in macadamia nut oil and olives are the key to decreasing inflammation.” Dr. Pescatore advises. Canola oil and avocados are good sources of these fats as well.

Dr. Pescatore also recommends adding these supplements to your diet:

• Vitamin A - 10,000 IU 3 times per day
• Quercetin - 500 mg. 3 times per day
• Garlic - 400 mg. 3 times per day
• AHCC - 500 mg. 3 times per day

Allergies are a nuisance, but they can also lead to more chronic conditions. If your symptoms aren’t responding to treatment or you develop a fever it could mean that you have an infection. You will need to see your doctor to explore more options for treatment. If you develop a tightness in your chest or experience difficulty breathing, get medical attention right away.

Seasonal allergies can be annoying, but they don’t have to control your life. By arming yourself with knowledge, planning ahead and improving your diet you can stay one step ahead of your symptoms and enjoy your days no matter what the season!

Fred Pescatore, MD, MPH, is the author of The Allergy and Asthma Cure and the Director of Partners In Integrative Medicine.

Annita Townsley is a freelance writer based in Kentucky who covers a range of topics including Christianity, parenting, and health care.