10 Things That Can Worsen Seasonal Allergies

10 Things That Can Worsen Seasonal Allergies

Allergy suffers will be the first to admit having symptoms such as itchy watery eyes, sneezing and a runny nose is never fun.

Most people don’t even realize there are many things that exist in their daily lives and environment that can make their symptoms so much worse. It is important to learn about what common culprits you should avoid when it comes to not antagonising allergies.

Stress – Stress levels can exasperate any type of symptoms. So it’s important to chill out. I recommend trying exercise, regular sleep patterns, healthy eating or medications as a last resort. These things can help you relax and make allergy season a little more tolerable.

Alcohol – Alcohol, especially wine, can sometimes make allergy symptoms worse. Wine and beer may contain sulfates, which can irritate sensitive individuals making them to feel congested after consuming.

Produce – Some produce may contain pollen-like proteins. According to the Asthma foundation of America, approximately one third of pollen allergy sufferers may be affected by oral allergy syndrome (OAS) which is a problem where eating fruits and vegetables may result in sneezing and sniffling. Raw produce such as apples, tomatoes and cantaloupe may contain a protein found on the surface. So your body thinks you are swallowing pollen. Peeling and cooking the produce is sometimes an effective way to help alleviate symptoms.

Contact Lenses – When pollen levels in the air are high, contact lens wearers may want to pick up their eyeglasses. Soft contacts are prone to trapping things like pollen or smoke which can irritate the eye. An alternative during allergy season may be using disposale lenses you can throw away to avoid any pollen build up, or get yourself a pair of interesting eyeglasses and change up your look a bit.

Medications – There are a number of different allergy medications available over the counter, which mostly can be lumped into one of two categories: antihistamines and decongestants. While both relieve you of allergy symptoms to some degree, they actually work in different ways. Decongestants work by alleviating congestion caused by swollen nasal passages. While antihistamines relieve sneezing, itchiness and a runny nose. It is highly recommended to use medications that include both in order to combat all symptoms caused by allergies.

Scents – No matter where you may be, it can be extremely difficult to avoid household chemicals and scents, however, eliminating things like candles, perfumes, incense and holiday decorations which can irritate the lining of the eyelids and nasal passages can sometimes ease allergy symptoms. Even some household plants can help eliminate contaminants and improve your air quality.

Clothing – Clothing can harbor allergens. Especially rough and sticky fabrics like wool. Washing after every wear is essential during allergy season. It is also a good idea to wash in hot water as it can be more effective in rinsing allergens from fabrics.

Bathing – Have you ever noticed that you wake up congested in the morning? That’s because much like your clothes and hair, pollen can also stick to your skin. Taking a shower before bed can help prevent this from happening when you sleep. If you are a morning shower person, at least comb your hair and wash your face before bed.

Secondhand Smoke – Along with many other health problems, second hand smoke can have the same negative impact on allergy sufferers as ragweed and pollen. Additionally, much like candles and perfumes smoke is an irritant that can impact your respiratory  tract, so avoid the smokers, and their secondhand smoke whenever possible.

Weather  – Ideal weather conditions for the release of pollen in the air include dry, sunny, windy days as well as drizzly, overcast days. Stormy days while depressing can actually give the most relief to allergy sufferers as heavy rain washes the pollen out of the air.

Surviving the allergy season is a difficult feat in it of itself, however, by keeping in mind these 10 allergy irritants, you can definitely make the fight a little easier and not worsen seasonal allergies or your symptoms.  If a little extra help is needed, check out some Fall Home & Air Quality Improvement Tips and some Tips for Surviving Fall Allegies that can also assist with the struggle.