Oak Pollen Allergy Relief
Oak pollen allergies frequently bring symptoms of coughing, chest congestion, sneezing, wheezing, itchy eyes, sinus congestion, sore throat, and headache. Annually, beginning in March and lasting as late as May, central Texas is coated with sticky, yellow-green pollen from the live oak trees, and hundreds of people suffer respiratory allergy symptoms as a result. However, there are basic strategies you can implement to make oak pollen allergy season a much happier time of year.
Oak Pollen Allergy Relief Step 1: avoidance.
When possible, avoid extended outdoor activities. Pollen is transported by the wind from the trees to whatever it encounters, and that includes allergy sufferers. If being outdoors is unavoidable, wear a dust mask. This is especially important if you are completing gardening, yard work or outside maintenance that stirs up debris.
With warmer spring temperatures, it may be tempting to leave the windows open. But doing so will allow oak pollen to blow into your house and accumulate. This quickly becomes evident by the accumulation of oak pollen on your windowsills. Keep the windows shut as much as possible, especially in the bedroom. To further help lower indoor pollen accumulation, change your HVAC filters periodically. It may also be useful to purchase a free-standing air purifier and run it while sleeping.
Oak Pollen Allergy Relief Step 2: clean contacted surfaces.
Some exposure to oak pollen is inevitable. When you come indoors, take time to rinse your eyes, face and wash your hands. Also, rinse your nose out several times a day. This can be done with either a simple nasal saline solution, available at most drug stores or, alternatively, make your own saline using sea salt, water, and use a neti pot for application, available at most natural food stores. Removing of the majority of the pollen in your nasal passages can provide considerable allergy relief.
Oak Pollen Allergy Relief Step 3: Strive for sustained, allergy elimination.
The most common pharmaceutical allergy treatment options are decongestants, antihistamines and corticosteroids. All of these carry significant side effects. Additionally, while they may provide immediate symptom relief, they do not typically provide a long-term allergy elimination solution.
Safe, convenient non-pharmacutical treatments for respiratory allergies are available. One of these treatments is herbal therapy based on traditional Chinese herbal medicine. In addition to immediate symptom relief, a good formula will help prevent secondary infection, and with continued use, provide allergy elimination. Unlike other herbal therapies, traditional Chinese herbal therapies contain multiple herbs that work in conjunction with each other. Therefore, they often provide greater relief than single herbs.
Whatever herbs you use to provide oak pollen allergy relief, it is important to include herbs that provide symptom relief, immune modulation and secondary infection prevention. For immune modulation, which will help with lasting allergy elimination, astragalus root is extremely beneficial. All herbal remedies should come from trusted sources, made by companies that employ stringent manufacturing guidelines.
It is essential to remember that if you suffer severe asthma-like symptoms, marked by wheezing and difficulty getting enough air, emergency treatment may be necessary. If wheezing causes severe tightness in the chest, light-headedness, or a feeling of fainting, do not hesitate to dial 911. The majority of asthma related deaths in the United States are preventable. By reducing oak pollen exposure, both outdoors and indoors in combination with carefully constructed herbal therapy, the spring can be a happier, healthier time for allergy sufferers.
How to Control an Allergy Through the Right Use of Allergy Relief Products
Nobody likes to find himself in a continuing session of sneezing and scratching as a result of an allergy attack. However, he is hardly ever given a choice in the matter. So the best thing he can do is to keep it under control by the proper use of allergy relief products.
The market and the world of medicine have plenty of these products to offer in the form of over the counter medicines and also as prescription drugs. These can be used by itself or in combination with some of the home remedies used for allergy control. Those who are prone to allergy attacks should keep track of the allergy relief products that are being continuously introduced into the market and must try to understand the efficacy of each.
Statistics show that nearly 54% of the population is suffering from allergies of one form or other, though the intensity of the problem could vary over a wide range. And all over the world people are seen to be becoming increasingly prone to allergy. Because of it, the demand for allergy relief products is increasing in the market.
Allergy relief products are not just drugs but cover a whole range of products like air purifiers and masks which people use to minimize the possibility of coming into contact with potential allergens. Some people may be allergic to things that are rare in their environment. They may go through their life never becoming aware that they have an allergy problem.
For example, someone who has never touched a cat will never know if he is allergic to cat hair. But those who keep a pet and are allergic to pet dander will need an array of allergy relief products like air purifiers, mattress covers, blankets, and mattress pads to protect themselves. On the other hand, things like dust mites are generally present everywhere and those who are allergic to it will need items like air purifiers and allergy beddings everywhere.
People who are allergic to things like paint, insecticides, bleach, perfumes, or tobacco smoke should do their best to avoid being in the vicinity of these things. In some cases the chemicals in them may be the allergen, while in other cases they may not directly set off an allergy attack but might make an existing allergic condition worse.
Air purifiers can be used in these cases as well. Besides, sufferers can use allergy relief products like gloves or masks to lessen the contact with the allergen.
Though allergies are definitely unpleasant, various allergy relief products like allergy bedding, dust mite covers, humidifiers, furnace filters, and air purifiers can prevent allergy attacks to a large extent.
How to Choose Allergy Relief Aids
Many people are all too familiar with the sneezing, itchy watery eyes, and runny nose caused by allergies. They do not want to spend time and money going to the doctor over a problem that they already understand and can help with non-prescription medicine. If you are one of these people, you can choose among several allergy relief formulas.
Alavert is one allergy relief medicine that you only need to take once a day for round-the-clock relief. It does not make you drowsy, so you do not have to worry about driving or staying alert for other tasks during the day. Its prime ingredient is loratadine, which is an antihistamine.
Alavert tablets melt in your mouth so it is easy to take them, even away from home. You might want to choose a large supply of this allergy relief product if you suffer from hay fever or other upper-respiratory allergies.
Claritin Non-Drowsy Allergy Relief medicine is very similar to the Alavert tablets. They are also one-a-day tablets for all day relief. Claritin RediTabs also have loratadine, and can be taken by dissolving under the tongue. Alavert tends to be a little less expensive, while the Claritin RediTabs cost a little more for the convenience.
Some of the lesser known antihistamine allergy relief medicine is very inexpensive. It may cause drowsiness, though, so be sure to read the label carefully. If your allergies are severe enough, the drowsiness may be a minor inconvenience to you compared to the relief you get.
Aller-Tec is one of these allergy relief medicines. It contains ceritizine hydrochloride, which is a powerful antihistamine. Make certain that you read the ordering information carefully to see that you are not taking any conflicting medications already. Diphenhydramine is a generic allergy relief medicine that works in a similar way.
Nasal decongestants are good allergy relief medicine for many people. They clear up the sinuses when allergies have clogged them. You can get generic phenylephrine tablets for a reduced price, or you can purchase Sudafed PE decongestant if you prefer a name brand.
When you buy allergy relief medicine online, you can take advantage of lower prices and stock-up sizes. Choose your allergy tablets with an eye to value. However, do not forget to consider the type of medicine you are getting and how it will affect you in your daily life.
Natural Allergy Relief – 4 Ways to Control Allergies Without Medication
Allergy symptoms range from hugely irritating sneezing and a constant runny nose to watery eyes, nasal congestion, itchy skin and or flaky skin, sore throats and post nasal drip. For many people allergy season means shutting the doors and windows and not opening them again until the first frost. But wouldn't you still love to enjoy warmer weather and the good health you otherwise have in spite of your allergies?
You may eventually need to augment the following suggestions with either over the counter medicine, or have an allergist prescribe medications that will help.
Seasonal Allergy Relief
Seasonal allergies, otherwise called hay fever, reoccur about twice a year when triggering allergens are present in the air. A primary antagonist allergen that causes symptoms in most individuals appear is pollen, and airborne pollen levels increase during the spring and fall seasons. This is when these symptoms are most likely to flare up. Symptoms, when untreated, will last the entire season or at least until the triggering allergen is no longer present in the environment.
Some symptoms of this condition include itchy eyes and sneezing. Symptoms can also include coughing and nasal congestion in some individuals, which is why some people confuse having allergies with having the common cold. More severe symptoms could include asthma. It is a good idea to keep an inhaler nearby as advised by your doctor if you are afflicted by asthma in relation to your allergies.
You can prevent some of these allergy symptoms by showering or washing your hands after outdoor exposure. Also, drinking more water may help to reduce your symptoms. If you have pets, brush and groom them often to cut down on pet dander, because pet dander can also aggravate seasonal allergies. Nasal congestion associated with your symptoms may be relieved with the use of a saline/water nasal spray solution.
If you are pondering more natural remedies for seasonal allergies, try incorporating more essential fatty acids into your diet as those found in fish and flaxseeds. Essential fatty acids act as inflamatories, therefore reducing your symptoms.
There are over-the-counter drugs or prescription drugs that may relieve your symptoms. Popular over-the-counter antihistamines include Zyrtec and Claritin. If you are seeking a prescription, ask your doctor about Allegra.
Finding the Right Allergy Relief
For allergy sufferers, finding the right allergy relief can be downright frustrating and, at times, feel quite hopeless. When medication after medication proves unsuccessful, relief can seem like a far-off dream. However, being persistent, monitoring triggers, and keeping open lines of communication with a doctor may prove to be the best possible ways to get one step closer to finding a solution.
Depending on the type of allergy, many options are available for relief. Obviously, the most important treatment is to avoid the irritant as much as possible or to try and completely eliminate any type of contact with the allergen. In order to find the specific irritant, testing may take place to see what specific allergen is causing the allergy symptoms. Once the specific trigger is defined, a plan can be discussed with a doctor or allergist.
For individuals who suffer from pet dander, mold, dust, and mildew allergies, keeping the home as clean as possible can help to achieve some allergy relief. Choosing not to have an animal in the home if there is a pet allergy would eliminate this problem completely. But if the animal must remain in the home, frequent washing of the animal to eliminate excess pet dander can prove to be helpful in minimizing symptoms.
Frequent dusting, vacuuming, and cleaning of bathrooms and kitchens with a bleach and water solution can help keep dust mites and molds at bay. Protecting mattresses and pillows with covers and pads minimizes the possibility of dust mites. And weekly washing of all bedding, including blankets, will also provide allergy relief by reducing allergens within the air. Also, obtaining an air humidifier and an air filtration system can reduce mold spore production within the air.
Certain over-the-counter medications also prove helpful for sufferers of seasonal allergies - those that are induced by the release of pollens into the air - as well as any other type of mild allergy. Nasal decongestants or certain antihistamines such as psuedoephedrine, phenyleprhrine, or oxymetorlzaone can be used alone or in conjunction with each other to achieve relief through the elimination of such symptoms as itchy and watery eyes, stuff and runny nose, and chronic sneezing.
For sufferers of more severe allergies, prescription allergy relief may be found in long term antihistamine use or in nasal corticosteroids. Corticosteroids, taken at low dosages, have proven very successful in eliminating ongoing chest congestion. Immunotherapy is also utilized in severe allergy cases and involves injections of the specific allergen over time in order to build the body's immunity and create tolerance to that allergen in the future.
If all of the treatments have proven unsuccessful, individuals should remain persistent and discuss other alternatives with their doctor to find the relief they need. Monitoring the triggers and tracking any changes will help the doctor understand the individual's specific allergy. New treatments are being discovered on a daily basis and keeping up-to-date with the newest developments could lead to finding the right allergy relief for you.
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