Hay Fever
Hay Fever
There's no arguing that the thoughts of many knaves and maids turn to love when spring has sprung. But if you're one of those who gets hay fever in this festive season, then your libido isn't the only part of your body in overdrive.
Your nose may be stuffy or runny. Your eyes may itch and water. Your throat may feel irritated. You may even get hives when the bees leave theirs to do some pollinating.
Ah, spring ... uh, better make that ahhh-chooo spring... but the truth is, this season has taken a bad rap from snifflers. Hay fever isn't solely a rite of spring; autumn brings its own share of misery. In the fall, when ragweed and other plants are blooming and spreading their windblown pollen everywhere, your respiratory system is one of the miserable landing sites. And while a little congestion and sneezing may be a small price to pay to enjoy the wonders of Mom Nature's handiwork, here's how to get some wholesale relief for your sinuses and enjoy the Great Outdoors.
Stay away from melon. Having hay fever can make you more prone to food allergies. Researchers note that many people seem to have an allergic-like reaction after eating certain foods--what's called cross-reactivity. For instance, those allergic to ragweed often experience cross-reactive symptoms when they eat watermelon, cantaloupe or honeydew. And those with birch tree-pollen allergies sometimes react to cherries, apples, pears, peaches, carrots and potatoes. Herbal teas may also produce an adverse reaction in some people.
Ingestion of those foods does not produce hay fever. But it does bring on annoying symptoms such as "itching of the throat and swelling of the lips and tongue," says Robert Bush, M.D., chief of allergy at William S. Middleton Veterans Administration Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, and professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "Of course, if eating certain foods produces these or more severe symptoms such as breathing or swallowing problems, the best course is avoidance of the foods."
Make a routine of antihistamine. it's a common mistake: A hay fever sufferer takes one over-the-counter antihistamine, feels better and then waits until the symptoms are really bad before taking another one. But this can make you feel like you're on a roller coaster--feeling good one day and bad the next, says allergist William W. Storms, M.D., associate clinical professor of medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver. So if your doctor advises you to go the antihistamine route, it's important to take your medicine every day as a preventive during the allergy season.
Build up gradually. For maximum relief, take an antihistamine 30 minutes before going outdoors, suggests Gerald Klein, M.D., director of the Allergy and Immunology Medical Group in Vista, California. If one kind of antihistamine makes you drowsy, purchase a lower dose and take the lower dose just at bedtime for three days. (Antihistamines are formulated in different concentrations; check the package to compare doses.) During the next few days, gradually increase the dose and also begin taking one tablet in the morning, in addition to your nighttime tablet. "Dosing yourself gradually will help your body build up tolerance to the side effects, so you won't get so sleepy," explains Dr. Klein. (He also suggests asking your doctor about nonsedating antihistamines, available by prescription.)
Don't be an early bird. Pollen counts tend to peak between 5:00 A.M. and 10:00 A.M., so limiting outdoor activity during the morning hours can help keep your allergies to a minimum. That means limiting exercise and other activities until mid- to late afternoon, when pollen is at its lowest, advises Dr. Klein. (You can also check prevailing winds and pollen counts in the newspaper, and they're mentioned in some radio and television weather forecasts.)
Go easy on the nasal sprays. Despite the temptation, don't use over-the-counter nasal sprays for longer than three days in a row. After that, they can actually increase congestion--and can even lead to addiction. "What happens with continued use is that the nose tissue becomes irritated and swollen and you feel even more stuffed up," explains Charles H. Banov, M.D., clinical professor of medicine and microbiology/immunology at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston and past president of the American College of Allergy and Immunology. "So you require more and more of the medicine for the tissue to shrink."
A safe, nonaddictive alternative for fighting nasal congestion is to inhale salt water, says Dr. Banov. Use one teaspoon of salt to one pint of water, plus a pinch of baking soda, and stir until both dissolve. Then place a few drops in a small spoon and sniff it up each nostril.
Run the air conditioner. Keep your house and car windows closed and your air conditioner on during spring, summer and fall months, advises H. James Wedner, M.D., chief of clinical allergy and immunology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. "If you don't want cooled air, at least flip on the fan setting. The fan will filter out the offending pollen." He also suggests, "During the pollen season, you should clean your air conditioner filter approximately once a month."
Use your clothes dryer. "Wind-dried clothes can become pollen catchers," says Dr. Klein. And when you wear them, you get a full dose. But drying clothes in a dryer, or hanging them inside to dry, will keep them pollen-free.
Lather your locks. After being outside for a long time during the day, wash your hair to avoid inhaling pollen that falls from your hair onto your pillow, suggests Robert Scanlon, M.D., clinical professor and director of the Allergy Clinic at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. If it's not possible to take a shower every evening, at least try to thoroughly wash your face, hands and eyes.
