Seasonal allergies affect millions of people across the globe every year. We would so love to do away with them, wouldn’t we? While in some cases it is possible to grow out of them as you get older, allergies can’t actually be cured, unfortunately.
While this is a bummer, there are lots of ways you can effectively treat them and reduce your symptoms, and our AFC Urgent Care Chapman Highway team has highlighted them below.
How Can I Know If I’m Experiencing Allergies?
While seasonal allergy symptoms and symptoms of a common cold are similar in a lot of ways, there are a few differentiating factors. First, itching in the eyes or nose is more common with allergies and less common with a cold.
Another tell-tale sign of seasonal allergies is the color of your mucus. With a cold, you will produce yellowish, thick mucus, while you will produce thin, clear, watery mucus when struggling with seasonal allergies. We’ve listed a few more common seasonal allergy symptoms below.
Common Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
- Itchy, watery or red eyes
- Circles under eyes
- Itchy mouth, nose or throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Drainage from the nose down the back of the throat (postnasal drip)
- Temporary loss of smell
- Headache
- Sneezing
How Can I Get Rid of Seasonal Allergies?
While it’s not really possible to totally get rid of seasonal allergies, there are things you can do to reduce the severity of your symptoms. One of the best things you can do is to take over-the-counter decongestants or antihistamines, which can limit the sneezing and sniffling.
We’ve listed a few more effective ways to reduce your allergy symptoms below.
Ways to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
- Know when to take your allergy medicines. If you typically experience bad allergies around the same time each year, start taking your nose sprays or OTC antihistamines about two weeks before allergy season starts, and then keep taking them regularly throughout your allergy season.
- Keep indoor air clean. You can do this by using a dehumidifier and vacuuming regularly. This will reduce the amount of harmful allergens that make their way inside the home.
- After spending time outside, remove your clothes and shower to rinse pollen from your skin and hair.
Ready to feel better? We can help! Don’t hesitate to visit our AFC team today.
