Sneezing, watery eyes and coughing can cause havoc on your day — or your week or month if the cause is seasonal allergies. And you're not alone if you're wondering what's happening in your body when seasonal allergy symptoms hit.
“Even though pollens and pet dander are not considered dangerous, once exposed, the body goes into attack mode and sets off a false alarm, so to speak,” explains Dr. Mas Takashima, an otolaryngologist at Houston Methodist. “Then we experience mucus production and symptoms such as a runny nose as the body tries to flush the irritants out.”
Common seasonal allergy symptoms include:
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Sneezing
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Scratchy throat
- Fatigue
- Headaches
The good news is that there are plenty of ways to manage seasonal allergy symptoms that you can do yourself at home, as well as with help from your doctor.
1. Adjust your home air quality
Changing the air quality in your home can significantly decrease the dust particles and allergens that are causing your body’s reaction. Dr. Takashima suggests keeping the windows closed on high pollen days and using a high-efficiency particulate (HEPA) air filter. Also clean or change your air filter regularly and vacuum and dust often to control airborne irritants.
“After you identify the different ways the allergens are getting into your house, you’re going to be in a better place to create a safer environment,” says Dr. Takashima.
2. Reduce exposures
The same as you would protect your skin on a sunny day or when visiting the pool or beach, you should also prepare for high-pollen days outside. Avoid the outdoors in the mornings when pollen levels are typically at their highest.
When you plan on going outside, incorporate the following into your routine:
- Wear sunglasses to keep pollen away from your eyes
- Wear a hat to keep pollen out of your hair
- Change your clothes when you return home
- Take a shower to wash away cling-on pollen and dust from your skin and hair
“If you go to bed without showering, you’re going to be sleeping with those irritants all night long," says Dr. Takashima. "So why not rinse it all off, to make your bedroom safe?”
The same goes for your pets. Dogs and other indoor/outdoor pets can bring in pollen and dust. Regular grooming can help cut down on the environmental irritants that cause allergy symptoms.
(Related: Houston Allergies: What to Know If You're New to Town)
3. Rinse (your sinuses) and repeat
Think of your nose as an air filter for your lungs. The hairs and mucus in the nose are meant to keep irritants inside your nose.
Saline irrigations, using a Neti pot or saline rinse bottle, are effective in clearing the nose, improving congestion and stuffiness. The system is available at any pharmacy near the cold/flu section.
As a prevention, Dr. Takashima recommends doing such irrigations daily to flush out irritants. “Rinse your nose on a regular basis," he says. "Rinsing once a day, especially in heavy pollen seasons, is very beneficial.”
Just be sure to use sterile water, such as distilled water, bottled water or water that's been boiled and allowed to cool to a safe temperature. This is critical for ensuring the water is rid of harmful microorganisms, like bacteria, or in rare cases amoeba.
Other over-the-counter allergy relief options include antihistamines or nasal corticosteroid sprays. Talk with your primary care doctor about which is the best option for you.
(Related: PODCAST: Can Seasonal Allergies Be Prevented?)
4. Talk with an allergy expert
If home treatment options don’t control your allergy symptoms, it’s time to talk with your doctor. You may benefit from allergy shots or oral drops to help retrain your body’s immune response to environmental triggers.
Starting at the source of your symptoms can provide a longer-term solution and can even help improve your overall respiratory health.
“When we can help improve your allergy symptoms, you may be less likely to develop sinus infections,” says Dr. Takashima, “and a lot of times, lung function will get better too — wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath improves.”
The bottom line: You don’t have to struggle all season with allergy flare-ups. Be proactive about symptom management — with the right plan, you can spend more time doing what you love and less time sneezing and sniffling this season.
