Do you dread the start of fall and winter because you know it will mean more sinus and allergy problems? If so, you’re not alone! Many people dread these months because they bring on so many annoying symptoms: runny nose, stuffy nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, and watery eyes. Ugh!
These annoying symptoms can make it difficult to go about your day as usual. You might have trouble sleeping at night or concentrating during the day at work or school. Talking to others can be almost painful with all that sneezing going on (you might even worry about sounding like a goose!). And worst of all, you may find that these symptoms keep you from enjoying time with family and friends – all because of hay fever and other allergy problems. In this blog post, we’ll discuss seven ways to prevent these unpleasant cold-and-flu-like things from ruining your day.
Recognize the Triggers
According to an allergist in Portland OR, allergies are caused by your immune system mistakenly treating something harmless as a threat. These allergies are caused by certain allergens that irritate your nose, eyes, throat, and lungs. Whenever you encounter these allergens, your immune system releases histamine, a type of molecule that causes inflammation in the body. This is what causes many of the symptoms we’ve just discussed. Food allergies can be a big factor in the fall and winter months.
Some plants are pollinating more during these months, and food allergies can be more common during this time of year. You might not even realize that you have a food allergy because the allergy can be hidden. If you are sensitive to certain foods, you may notice these allergies during the fall and winter months. Common culprits include nuts, peanuts, and shellfish. Some people who are allergic to pollen will also be allergic to the proteins in these foods.
Stay hydrated and breathe in steam
Keeping hydrated is always important, but it’s even more important during allergy season. Dehydration makes allergies worse and leads to other health problems. Try to drink a few glasses of water each day. It’s best to drink water in the morning. If you drink it later in the day, it will make it harder for you to fall asleep at night. Breathing in steam can help open your sinuses and make it easier to breathe. You can do this any time – not just when you have allergies. Simply fill a large bowl with hot water. Place your head over the bowl using a towel to catch the water dripping from your head. Breathe in the steam for about 10 minutes. You can do this several times per week or even daily if you want.
Try an Over-the-Counter Medication
Some over-the-counter allergy medications can help reduce the symptoms of allergy and relieve allergy-related discomfort. However, it’s important to remember that these medications only reduce the symptoms, not the cause. So if you want to get rid of the allergy for good, you will need to find the source of the allergy and remove it. Another thing to keep in mind is that these medications can have side effects, so it’s important to read the instructions carefully and follow them. Here are some medications you can try:
An antihistamine will help reduce the itching, sneezing, watery eyes, and runny nose associated with allergies. These medications are most effective when taken ahead of the allergy symptoms.
A decongestant reduces the swelling that occurs in your nasal passages.
A steroid nasal spray can help reduce the inflammation in the nasal passages.
Use a Neti Pot
A neti pot is a device used to flush out mucus and allergens from your nasal passages. If you have allergies, you will want to use a neti pot before allergies start as it will keep your nasal passages clear. This will also make it easier to fall asleep if you have allergies. Allergies cause your nasal passages to swell up, trapping mucus and making it difficult to breathe and sleep. Using a neti pot to flush out the mucus can make it easier to breathe. You just fill it with warm water and salt and then pour the water into one nostril and let it flow out of the other nostril. You can do this several times a day.
Use a Humidifier
A humidifier increases the moisture in the air and can help with many allergy-related issues. Allergies can cause your nasal passages to get dry as well as irritated. This can make it harder to breathe and even cause headaches. Using a humidifier can help reduce the number of allergens in the air and make it easier to breathe. You can also use humidifiers to help reduce the amount of water in your house during winter. Water pipes may freeze and burst when there is too much moisture in the house. Using a humidifier will help keep the moisture level down. Humidifiers are easy to use – just fill the tank with water, plug it in, and turn it on.
Take an Allergy Medication for Safety
Some allergies can be so severe that you need to take allergy medications for safety. If your allergy symptoms are so severe that you feel like you can’t breathe or you have other health problems, like a headache, you may need to see a doctor. If pollen allergies are bad where you live and you have severe allergies, you may need to take allergy shots or use an allergy medication like an antihistamine. Allergy shots help your body build up a tolerance to the things that bother you. They are given every few weeks and take several months to work. You may need to take a prescription antihistamine as well. This helps reduce the swelling in your nasal passages and the itching.
Get Professional Help to Determine Root Cause
If you’ve used all of these methods and you’re still having problems with allergies, you may have an underlying issue that needs to be treated. An allergist or even a doctor for sinus/ENT specialist can help determine the cause of your allergies and help you treat them. They can also determine if you have a larger health problem that needs to be treated. Here are some examples of when you might need professional help:
If allergies aren’t getting better after a few weeks, or if you have other issues like a runny nose, headache, or nasal congestion that lasts for longer than a week.
If you have trouble sleeping at night because of allergies.
If allergies cause you to lose your temper easily, have short temper outbursts, or have feelings of depression.
Conclusion
If you’re suffering from allergies during the fall or winter months, you’re not alone! Many people experience more allergy symptoms during these months, and it can be difficult to go about your day as usual. It’s important to recognize the triggers of your allergies and take steps to lower their impact on your life. Try some of these ways to prevent sinus and allergy symptoms from ruining your day.
