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11 Essential Tips for Handling Fall Allergies

Sep 05, 2017
11 Essential Tips for Handling Fall Allergies
For people having a predisposition to allergy, fall is the most susceptible time to acquire seasonal allergies. Around 35 million Americans can suffer from nasal congestion, runny nose, watery eyes, itching, hives or sneezing during fall.

For people having a predisposition to allergy, fall is the most susceptible time to acquire seasonal allergies. Around 35 million Americans can suffer from nasal congestion, runny nose, watery eyes, itching, hives or sneezing during fall. The most conspicuous allergens responsible for fall allergies include ragweed, pollens, and molds, and additionally, the climate change serves as a trigger to catch seasonal allergy. Apt measures can lessen this risk of getting yourself exposed to the allergy season and the responsible allergens. The useful tips to prevent fall allergies range from certain environmental resolutions to personalized approaches that can compliantly help you ditch the itch.

Certain people are more prone to develop allergies when exposed to the specific allergen as compared to normal individuals. Identification of possible allergens to the exposure of which you are more susceptible during fall season can help ease the misery via avoidance of that particular allergen. The best approach to tackle allergy is to never let it start which can be done by knowing what irritates your skin and later on taking steps to minimize its exposure. This can be done through a consultation of a board-certified allergist who is expressly trained to identify the possible factors that trigger an allergy in you. With the help of skin allergy tests and blood tests, the allergens you are most susceptible to can be mapped out and any imminent allergies can easily be prevented.

Regarding medications to prevent fall allergies, be careful with the use of certain over the counter available nasal and eye allergy drops as they can worsen your symptoms of allergy via a rebound effect due to the agents they contain which can potentiate the allergic response. However, patients who are allergy prone can use nonprescription or even prescribed antihistamines, decongestants, and topical corticosteroids to tackle their allergic symptoms. A newer approach that can be employed in allergy-prone individuals is allergen immunotherapy which involves the use of allergy shots that are successful in the long-term management of allergies. Allergen immunotherapy involves subcutaneous administration of allergy shots or drops that contain small doses of allergen substances you are susceptible to. This helps your body in getting acclimatized to the allergen and thus it produces mild allergic response upon contracting the allergen in its full form.

General tips to avoid fall allergies include:

  1. Keep outside air out by closing doors and windows. During fall, it is the presence of pollens, ragweed, dust mite and other allergens in the outside air that can make you allergy prone so it is best to minimize the exposure of outside air to the indoor environment.
  2. Modify indoor environment via the use of air conditioners to maintain optimal temperatures. Air conditioning can help reduce the pollen count and the use of special particulate air conditioning filters can even trap pollens and allergens.
  3. Frequently replace the air filters. Use of air purifiers can make the indoor environment more comfy and allergy free.
  4. Nasal irrigation with the help of plenty of salines can wash away the allergens and helps relieve congestion.
  5. Use sterile eye drops to prevent itchy eyes.
  6. Take a shower after outside activity.
  7. Change shoes and clothes when coming from outside. Stay clean by frequently washing and bathing.
  8. Avoid hanging clothes to dry in outside areas as they can harbor pollens and other allergens.
  9. Frequently change bed sheets and linens.
  10. Avoid pets from coming onto beds and sofas after coming from outside environments as they may let pollens into bed.
  11. Use medications and see a doctor when needed.

REFERENCES

  1. Fall Allergies: Seasonal Tips to End the Itch. WebMD. Retrieved 25 August 2017, from http://www.webmd.com/allergies/features/fall-allergies-seasonal-tips-end-itch
  2. 8 Tips for Fall Allergy Relief. (2017). EverydayHealth.com. Retrieved 25 August 2017, from https://www.everydayhealth.com/allergy/8-tips-for-fall-allergy-relief.aspx
  3. 5 Tips for Surviving Fall Allergies. (2017). Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved 25 August 2017, from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2013/09/5-tips-for-surviving-fall-allergies/
  4. Seasonal Allergies: 4 Routes to Relief. WebMD. Retrieved 25 August 2017, from http://www.webmd.com/allergies/features/seasonal-allergies-4-routes-to-relief#1
  5. 10 Solutions For Seasonal Allergies. (2017). Prevention. Retrieved 25 August 2017, from https://www.prevention.com/health/health-concerns/best-treatments-for-seasonal-allergies
  6. Don’t Fall for FALL Allergies! | Breathe Easy Allergy & Asthma | Dr. Sonia Kamboj | Marrero Lousiana (LA). (2017). Breatheeasyallergy.com. Retrieved 25 August 2017, from http://www.breatheeasyallergy.com/blog/dont-fall-fall-allergies