Allergies are the worst, and the fall season tends to see them spike dramatically. For millions of people who suffer from ragweed and mold sensitivity, this time of year can be a nightmare, especially if the typical treatment of antihistamines don’t do the trick. There are things that can be done, however, to lessen the severity of the symptoms, and some of them might just surprise you. Here are several surprising fall allergy solutions to keep you comfortable and breathing easy.
Conventional wisdom says to avoid going outside as much as possible during allergy season, but did you know that the indoors can actually be worse for your allergies? Your house is covered with carpeting, fabric, sealed-up windows, damp basements and bathrooms. All of these are vectors for allergens.
Keeping your house as immaculately clean as possible is the first thing you can do to make your allergies less severe — and it can improve your overall quality of life as well! HEPA filters for your HVAC system and vacuum cleaner are major factors to prevent allergens from making it into your body.
Even if you don’t have food allergies, what you eat can make a difference in your symptoms. The antioxidants found in some vegetables, nuts, fruits, and beverages like green tea can help to reduce inflammation in your body. Since fall allergy symptoms are caused by inflammation from your immune system overreacting, eating healthy is a good way to keep these at bay.
Being overweight is a factor in tons of different health problems from heart disease to cancer to diabetes and yes, even allergies. Since that extra weight puts pressure on your air passages, the difficulty breathing you may experience from your allergies can be exacerbated from being heavy. Increase your oxygen and airflow by shedding some extra pounds.
Of course, this only applies if you’re actually overweight. Dropping weight when you are already at a healthy level can also cause health problems. People who are underweight may have improper nourishment that weakens their immune system, leading to many health problems from poor circulation to increased risk of illness. Your doctor can help you set a healthy goal weight to reach and maintain.
Stress reactions wreak havoc on your body functions and can weaken your immune system, which makes you more prone to serious allergy symptoms. We all have stress in our lives; the key is to find a way to limit it and release it. Try breathing exercises, exercise or a relaxing hobby to control your stress.
There are many holistic remedies that doctors say can supplement your regular antihistamines. Try taking a daily multivitamin to improve your overall health. Using a hot compress or a neti pot can open up your sinus passages and clear those stuffy, runny noses. Your ENT doctor can suggest other supplementary treatments you may not have considered.
Do you suffer from fall allergies in the Atlanta area? If so, we may be able to help. Read a bit more about what causes allergies and how a qualified doctor can help free you from the shackles of these symptoms, then give us a call for an appointment or more information today.
