Seasonal Allergy Relief: Fight Back Against Pollen

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• Safely and quickly starts relieving allergy symptoms due to hay fever (allergic rhinitis) including itching, sneezing, coughing, congestion and headache
• Provides safe non-addictive, non-drowsy relief without the negative side effects commonly associated with other allergy symptom relief medications

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After long, cold, dead winter, most people really look forward to spring. It is the season of new life, and it is exciting to see trees budding, the grass turning green, and flowers opening their blooms. Most people can enjoy it-just not the twenty-six million Americans with chronic seasonal allergies. For these allergy sufferers, spring and summer can really affect their quality of life.

What Causes Seasonal Allergies?

Airborne pollen from seasonal plants can find a way into the body through the eyes, nose, mouth or throat and cause an allergic reaction. This reaction is caused by the body's immune system sensing a foreign object in the body and launching an all-out attack. The immune system unleashes its chemical warfare such as histamines and other compounds which result in inflammation leading to irritation and discomfort. Typically this attack happens less than ten minutes after exposure and subsides within an hour. It can, however, re-launch two to four hours later.

How To Avoid Allergic Reaction In The First Place

Those suffering from seasonal allergies should keep windows and doors shut and the air conditioner running. They should also use an air filter that cleans out pollens, mold, and dust. Damp areas of the house should have a dehumidifier running. It is best to have wood, tile or vinyl floors because they can be easily mopped. If they have carpets, they need to either have someone else in the house do the vacuuming, or they will need a vacuum that does not release dust particles into the air. Anything that can collect dust should be minimized. Pets need to either stay outside or at least stay off of the bed. The seasonal allergy sufferers also need to wash their hair everyday and keep the laundry current.

How Should I Relieve Allergy Symptoms?

For some people, over-the-counter medications can ease their discomfort. Antihistamines stop the itching and sneezing that the histamines cause in the body. The problem with most antihistamines is that they cause drowsiness-extreme drowsiness for some. Pseudoephedrine, a nasal decongestant, helps relieve stuffy noses due to allergies, but it is not effective for runny noses and sneezing. A combination can be very helpful, but people have to be careful because of the drowsiness. When antihistamines and decongestants are not effective, doctors can prescribe a corticosteroid nasal spray. These sprays are usually very effective, and they have minimal side effects. For some people, however, they can cause nose bleeds or a sore nose.

When Nothing Seems to Work, How Can I Relieve Seasonal Allergies?

If a person has tried every drug available to them and nothing seems to be effective, they can work with their doctor to try immunotherapy, otherwise known as allergy shots. These are very effective, but it is a long process. Usually over three to five years the patient receives a small injection of the offending allergen several times a week. As time goes by they receive larger doses less often. Somewhere between six months and a year the allergy symptoms begin to subside. About one-third of patients who get allergy shots are actually cured after treatment, while some need to begin treatment again.

Fighting Seasonal Allergies Takes Determination

For some, allergies are just an annoyance, but for some, they can actually be life threatening. It is important to find the therapy that works for each person. For that, they will need to be careful about exposure and find the right medications that work for them. It is also important to work with the doctor to minimize problems with medication or therapy. The important thing to realize is that allergies do not have to be a way of life.

Photo Credit: Ellen Beth's Image Atheaeum