The best remedies for seasonal allergies
This fall, try these remedies for allergy-related sniffling and sneezing
By Michelle Villett
Treating seasonal allergies
If you’re one of the 30 percent of Canadians who suffer from allergic rhinitis—the medical term for the runny nose, congestion, sneezing and itchy eyes caused by exposure to airborne allergens—look out. “In much of Canada, the peak for fall allergies is the third week of September, but symptoms can persist into December,” says Dr. Paul Keith, an allergist and associate professor in the department of medicine at McMaster University. Blame it on the weed pollens (mostly ragweed) and mould spores (in soil, plants and rotting vegetation) whose proteins your body mistakes for invaders. The immune systemoverreacts by producing antibodies, which travel to cells that release histamine and other chemicals, causing the reaction.
You can develop allergic rhinitis at any age, although childhood or early adulthood is most common (symptoms usually diminish with age). Women are slightly more susceptible than men, as are those with a history of atopic dermatitis or eczema. “The tendency to be allergic is inherited, but there are other factors including vitamin D deficiencies, obesity, and exposure to tobacco smoke and dust,” says Keith. To help prevent a reaction, get enough vitamin D, avoid smoking, use pillows and mattress covers to limit contact with dust mites, and keep car and bedroom windows closed to limit contact with pollens and mould spores. If you wear contact lenses, consider switching to daily disposables, as allergens can build up on the lens surface over time.
When seasonal allergies are left untreated, it’s not just your quality of life that suffers. “The more persistent and severe your allergic rhinitis is, the more likely you are to develop asthma,” says Keith. See a doctor if you have persistent symptoms that are interrupting your sleep, if you already have asthma or if over-the-counter treatments aren’t working after one week of use. Otherwise, you might want to consider the following remedies.
You can develop allergic rhinitis at any age, although childhood or early adulthood is most common (symptoms usually diminish with age). Women are slightly more susceptible than men, as are those with a history of atopic dermatitis or eczema. “The tendency to be allergic is inherited, but there are other factors including vitamin D deficiencies, obesity, and exposure to tobacco smoke and dust,” says Keith. To help prevent a reaction, get enough vitamin D, avoid smoking, use pillows and mattress covers to limit contact with dust mites, and keep car and bedroom windows closed to limit contact with pollens and mould spores. If you wear contact lenses, consider switching to daily disposables, as allergens can build up on the lens surface over time.
When seasonal allergies are left untreated, it’s not just your quality of life that suffers. “The more persistent and severe your allergic rhinitis is, the more likely you are to develop asthma,” says Keith. See a doctor if you have persistent symptoms that are interrupting your sleep, if you already have asthma or if over-the-counter treatments aren’t working after one week of use. Otherwise, you might want to consider the following remedies.
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