Fall to many means back to school, crisp mornings, the fresh smell of fallen leaves on the ground, and the return of allergy season! This fall is reported to be bad season for fall allergies in many places around the United States due to a summer of plentiful rain, followed by warn temperatures, which created a perfect growing season for Ragweed.
Approximately 10 to 20 percent of the public is allergic to ragweed, the most common culprit in fall seasonal allergies, and thanks to global warming, studies are finding that ragweed season is lasting as much as 15 days longer in some regions of the country. Rain, which washes pollen out of the air and so is generally welcomed by ragweed allergy sufferers, leads to the proliferation of mold, another seasonal allergy trigger.
White Cockle, Mugwort, Curled Dock, Amaranth/Pigweed, Lamb’s Quarters and Russian Thistle all sound like they could be found in Harry Potter’s wizard book, but are also the names of common fall allergens found in various regions around the U.S.
50 Plus Magazine offered these quick tips to lower your risk of fall allergies in their latest issue:
Get tested. Colds and hay fever cause similar symptoms. The big difference, according to health experts, is a matter of duration. As a rule of thumb, if symptoms persist for several weeks, it’s likely an allergy. Your doctor can give you a skin test to confirm that you have allergies and find out which allergens you need to avoid.
Leave the outdoors outside. Minimize your exposure to allergens by closing your windows (including car windows) and using the air conditioner instead. At home, your window screens can not protect you from microscopic pollen and mould spores. Allergens also have the annoying habit of sticking to clothes, so shower and change immediately after outdoor activities, and avoid drying sheets or clothes outside. When possible, stay indoors between 5:00 and 10:00 A.M., when allergen levels are highest.
Don’t ignore the signs. Research suggests that allergic rhinitis causes inflammation of the lungs and sinuses and may lead to more serious respiratory problems such as sinusitis and asthma. Hay fever can also make sufferers more vulnerable to allergic eczema and food allergies.
Skip the humidifier. While adding moisture to the air can soothe cold symptoms, using a humidifier can worsen allergies by causing rooms to become moldy. Dust mites also thrive in moist air. Reduce humidity by running your air conditioner.
Treat symptoms with medications. Nasal symptoms are typically treated with an over-the-counter non drowsy oral antihistamine or a steroid nasal spray such as Nasonex or Flonase.
At Canada Drugs we always have low priced antihistamines and decongestants in both easy to use over-the-counter forms, as well as prescription products for those of you who suffer from more serious allergies. Contact us today to discuss how you can get a handle on fall allergies so you don’t have to miss the season.
Tags: Allergies, antihistamines, decongestant, flu, mold
