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Seasonal allergies cause suffering far and wide every spring and into the summer. So many of us suffer from symptoms like itchy eyes, a stuffed up nose, sneezing, headaches from sinus pressure, and more. Do you know what causes these symptoms? Can you tell the difference between allergies and the common cold? Are there ways to prevent allergy symptoms from ruining your life, and most importantly, is there a simple treatment that can actually help? We have everything you have ever wanted to know about seasonal allergies right here.
Seasonal Allergy Facts
Seasonal allergies are very common. Millions of people suffer from seasonal allergies, and the symptoms range from slightly annoying to downright debilitating. Wherever you stand on that spectrum, you need to understand what you are dealing with. Seasonal allergies are also referred to as hay fever and allergic rhinitis.
According to the Mayo Clinic, allergy symptoms happen when “your immune system identifies a harmless airborne substance as harmful. Your immune system then produces antibodies to this harmless substance. The next time you come in contact with the substance, these antibodies signal your immune system to release chemicals such as histamine into your bloodstream, which causes a reaction that leads to the signs and symptoms of hay fever.”
There are several risk factors for experiencing hay fever type allergies. If you have family members who have allergies you might have inherited the propensity for this condition from them. Babies whose mother smokes around them for the first year of life have a higher occurrence of allergies. Also, people with eczema and other allergies are at a greater risk. If your environment constantly exposes you to allergens, your symptoms will obviously be worse.
Allergies are not caused by a virus. The common cold is a virus. While some symptoms may seem similar, the two are very different. Both allergies and a cold can present with a runny nose, but with allergies, the discharge is watery and clear. With a cold, the discharge is thicker and yellow. If you are experiencing a low grade fever, that is from a cold virus, not allergies. Allergy symptoms start as soon as the allergen (like pollen) is present. Cold symptoms show up 1-3 days after exposure to a cold virus. Allergy symptoms last as long as you are exposed to an allergen. Cold virus symptoms should fade away within a week or so.
Prevention
While you can’t stop allergies from hitting you completely, there are steps you can take to lessen the onset of seasonal allergies. Here are some steps you can take year round if you or someone in your family suffers from seasonal allergies.
- Track the pollen in your area. The Weather Channel has a fantastic allergy tracker. You can know when to ramp up your prevention and start taking a treatment if you know when the pollen count is going up.
- Local honey may help prevent allergy symptoms in the same way that allergy shots help. The local honey may help you develop immunity to your local pollen. Research isn’t conclusive, but it couldn’t hurt! Put a little honey in your tea or oatmeal.
- Stay inside if you can on dry, windy days. Soak up the springtime sunshine right after a rain shower. The rain naturally washes away the pollen and the air will be easier to breathe.
- After spending time outside in the spring, take a shower and put on clean clothes. Pollen sticks to you.
- To keep allergens to a minimum inside your home, vacuum frequently with a vacuum that has a HEPA filter, keep indoor air dry with a dehumidifier, get rid of dust with a damp cloth, and wash all bedding at least once a week in warm water.
Get Some Relief
If you know that you suffer from seasonal allergies, you should take note of the time of year your symptoms kick in. Don’t wait until you are so stuffed you can’t breathe to do something about it. If you start sniffling, coughing, and sneezing the second it warms up outside, start treatment on that first warm day in the spring. Take your allergy medicine before symptoms start and give your body a chance to fight off those symptoms before they overrun your life.
Not all allergy treatments are created equal, but there is one, available over the counter (OTC) conveniently at your local CVS that will give you the most complete allergy relief. You seriously don’t even have to go to the doctor. You just walk into CVS, grab it, and go. How simple is that?
Flonase has offered the best in allergy relief for years. Their nasal spray was available with a prescription and then it went OTC. Now they have something brand new, and if you suffer from seasonal nasal allergy symptoms, you need to know about this product. FLONASE® SENSIMIST™ is 40% more effective than the leading non-drowsy allergy pill. It goes right to the site of the problem, your nose, with a short nozzle delivering a gentle mist. One complaint people have about nasal sprays is they contain alcohol or they have a scent/taste that bothers them. That is not a problem with FLONASE® SENSIMIST™. There is no alcohol, and the formula is scent free! It won’t drip out of your nose either. It just delivers this powerful medicine right where you need it to relieve nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, and watery eyes. One dose lasts 24 hours. The best part is you can pop into CVS right in your neighborhood, grab a bottle that delivers a month’s worth of relief, and start feeling better right away.
FLONASE® SENSIMIST™ is helpful for seasonal allergies that are ramping up right now with all the spring pollen. It is also effective for allergies in the winter and even pet allergies! So if you are going to stay at a friend’s house and you always get the sniffles from their cat, make sure to take FLONASE® SENSIMIST™. It blocks six different allergic substances instead of one, so you will be able to enjoy your visit with your friend despite your allergies. Really, anyone with allergic rhinitis should keep this product on hand.
Allergies don’t have to shut down your life every spring. Armed with knowledge of why we experience seasonal allergies and how to prevent and actually treat the symptoms, we can live a full life no matter what the pollen count happens to be on any given day.This spring can be amazing. Will you be getting #SensimistAtCVS? Share your experience and tell us how this allergy relief will let your spring #BeGreater!
Do you need to clean out your vacuum to keep the house clean during pollen season? Learn How To Deep Clean Your Dyson Vacuum.
Resources: Mayo Clinic: Hay Fever, Honey for Allergies, Living With Cat Allergies
Photo Credits: Pixabay, Kristen D.
