Allergy Remedies - Lifestyle Changes to Help You Cope with Allergies

Seasonal allergies can certainly kick you in the ass when April and May roll around. The trees are blossoming and also releasing their irritating cargo and trillions of microscopic grains of pollen blow around the landscape, causing misery for millions of Americans. There are methods of relief, though most deal a pretty damaging blow to the wallet. Commercially-produced over-the-counter antihistamines like Claritin or Alavert can cost up to twenty dollars for a pack of medication that will only last around a week. Since the allergy season can affect certain people for up to two or three months, these prices for over-the-counter or prescription antihistamines can certainly hurt financially. There are plenty of cheaper, generic alternatives, but sadly they just don't work. You'd probably be better off taking sugar cubes than many generic antihistamines. Are there other allergy remedies out there that won't strain your wallet? Perhaps.

Allergy remedies do not all have to do with homeopathic crap that generally doesn't make you feel any different except a little earthier. Many of the allergy remedies I am going to cover have to do with lifestyle changes or other means of reducing your exposure to allergens rather than dealing with symptoms associated with them. However, I will devote some of this article to that purpose.

The best way to avoid the symptoms of seasonal allergies is to avoid those allergens as best you can. This does not mean sealing yourself inside a plastic bubble for two months before most of the pollen is wiped away. This would probably be ideal, but it isn't exactly practical. There are ways that you can avoid exposure to a number of allergens. The first is to remove allergens from your home. Two of the best ways to reduce airborne allergens is to remove them from the air, where dry conditions allow them to float freely about and into your nose. The first of the two remedies is to invest in a humidifier. You can get a humidifier for a relatively cheap price, and the cooling mist it provides will help to remove allergens from rooms. Of course, unless you have a gigantic humidifier unit, you will not be able to treat your entire house. But they are ideal for bedrooms where allergy symptoms can keep you from getting a good night's sleep. The second of the two remedies is to invest in a HEPA filter. These filters can be found in modern air purifiers and canister vacuum cleaners. Although both of these can be pricy, small units can be purchased and placed in rooms where you find yourself a lot. HEPA filters take in the surrounding air and trap allergens in special filters, thus removing them from the environment.

Some more allergy remedies involve minor lifestyle changes. If you are outside mowing the lawn or working around the yard, then it would be wise to wear a facemask to prevent exposure to allergens kicked up during work. These masks can be purchased at most pharmacies or department stores like K-Mart or Wal-Mart, and can be relatively effective at preventing certain allergies from reaching the nose or mouth. Since most of the histamine reactions accompanying allergies result from nasal inhalation of allergens, stopping them from entering the nose is a good start. If you're allergic to pollen, then it is not advisable to open windows in your house. Pollen can easily travel through window screens and breezes can draw millions of particles into your home.

If you're already feeling symptoms, then there are a few allergy remedies that can help you through the tough parts. Drinking sufficient quantities of water will help to loosen mucous secretions and allow for proper drainage in the nose and sinuses. Although blowing your nose constantly can be irritating, it is preferable to pounding headaches caused by congestion or a possible sinus infection if secretions can't drain. Using a cool, moist compress can help to reduce local inflammation of your nose and eyes, as well as promote drainage and give you reprieve from floating allergens. Sitting up straight will help mucous to drain better through your sinuses and your nose.

These remedies will not eliminate your allergies. An allergy is something that can be triggered by a very miniscule amount of something that can't be seen with the naked eye. Therefore, prescription antihistamines are really the best way of eliminating symptoms enough to allow you to work and relax during the peak allergy season. However, the aforementioned allergy remedies will certainly help to reduce your exposure to certain allergens and improve the efficacy of medication.