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FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM APRIL 18, 2019 • WELLNESS • THE QUEENS COURIER 25
Seasonal allergies: 8 tips that off er relief
Spring. Th e time of year when, as poet
Alfred Lord Tennyson famously said, a
young man’s (and woman’s) fancy “lightly
turns to thoughts of love.” Th at is, of
course, if you’re not sneezing, coughing
or dealing with itchy eyes. Spring allergies
seem to get worse every year. Is there anything
you can do to avoid them?
Yes, says allergist Dr. Todd Mahr, president
of the American College of Allergy,
Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). “You
might feel like suff ering from allergies is
going to happen every spring no matter
what, but there are ways to help alleviate
your symptoms.”
Th ese 8 tips will help you enjoy the season
instead of sitting it out indoors.
1. See an allergist. Before the season
kicks in, make an appointment with an
allergist to fi nd out exactly what is causing
those itchy, watery eyes. Discovering
the allergen that you’re reacting to is
the fi rst step in treating it. Th e ACAAI’s
Allergist Locator can help you fi nd a
board-certifi ed allergist in your area.
2. Find out if it’s allergies or asthma. Or
both. Th e symptoms from asthma can be
similar to those of allergies. Allergies plus
asthma can be a one-two punch for some
allergy suff erers. Almost 75 percent of
asthma suff erers also have allergies. Your
allergist can diagnose what’s causing your
symptoms and off er suggestions for treatment,
so you can start living the life you
want to live.
3. Consider allergy shots ... Th ey may be
the best way to treat tree, grass, mold, dust
mite, cat and dog allergies. Allergy shots
are immunotherapy. Th at means your
allergist will gradually give you increasingly
larger doses of whatever you’re allergic
to. Th ere are also tablets that melt
under your tongue to treat allergies to
ragweed, grass pollen and dust mites.
Both forms create a tolerance within your
immune system.
4. ... or get a prescription. Research has
shown that most allergy suff erers fi nd
prescription medications more eff ective
than those they can get over the counter.
But most people don’t go in search of
a prescription. An allergist can discover
exactly what you’re allergic to and prescribe
the right medication to ease your
symptoms.
5. Start medication before the season
hits. Don’t wait. Much like successful pain
management involves getting in front of
pain before it kicks into high gear, by taking
your allergy medications before the
worst symptoms develop, you’ll be doing
a lot to alleviate those symptoms.
6. Commit to a thorough spring cleaning.
It’s not just to give the house a fresh
look aft er the long winter. A deep clean
will reduce allergens like mold, which
build up in basements and other areas
where you might not go every day. It’s also
a great way to get rid of the pet hair and
dander that have built up in places like
your sofa. Wash throw rugs regularly, too,
in hot water.
7. Wash the day away before going to
bed. Take a shower and wash your hair
before hitting the hay to rinse away pollen
and other allergens you’ve picked
up during the day. Similarly, wash your
sheets and bedding once a week in hot
water.
8. Use the AC. It’s tempting to throw
open the windows and let that fresh
spring air waft into the house. Th e only
problem is, pollen and other allergens will
waft in with it. Instead, use your air conditioner
and make sure the fi lter is clean.
Change your fi lter every three months
and use one with a MERV rating of 11
or 12.
With a few commonsense tactics, you
can get ahead of your allergies and keep
them in the rear-view mirror all season
long.
ACAAI allergists are board-certifi ed
physicians trained to diagnose allergies
and asthma, administer immunotherapy
and provide patients with the
best treatment outcomes. For more
information and to fi nd relief, visit
AllergyandAsthmaRelief.org.
Courtesy BPT
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/AllergyandAsthmaRelief.org
