Suffering From Seasonal Allergies?
May 23, 2010 – 1:07 am
Sesonal Allergies
Over the counter antihistamines may give you some relief from seasonal allergies. Here are some more tips provided by experts.
For weeks I have been sneezing and wheezing due to the pollen permeating the air that I breathe. I love the spring and enjoy spending time outdoors but this year my favorite activities have been severely curtailed.
Last week, I played in a golf tournament and when the wind came up, I knew I was in deep trouble. I took an antihistamine in the morning but it didn’t help. Or, it might have been worse, if that’s possible.
I spent several hours of misery blowing my nose, coughing, sneezing and griping about my lot in life. My playing partners sympathized but I’m sure they were tired of watching me carry on this way.
Here are some tips provided by experts to help with seasonal allergies:
* Don’t go outdoors at all if it’s even slightly breezy.
* Keep your windows and doors tightly shut.
* Wash your sheets every few days and change pillow cases every day.
* Take a shower as soon as you come in the house.
* Put the clothes you’ve worn while outside in a laundry bag and close it.
* Shampoo your hair every day.
* Wear a hat when you go outdoors.
* Clean out your nasal passages with a Neti Pot every day.
Over the counter antihistamines may provides relief from allergy symptoms such as runny or itchy nose, sneezing, itchy throat, and watery, itchy, or red eyes.
Some of the more common remedies for seasonal allergies along with their active ingredients:
Claritin – Loratadine
Allegra - Fexofenadine
Benadryl, Genahist, Sominex, Unisom - Diphenhydramine
Atarax – Hydroxyzine Hydrochloride
Zyrtec – Cetirizine
Xyzal - Levocetirizine
Flonase – Fluticasone Nasal Spray – This medication is a corticosteroid that works directly on the nasal passages to reduce swelling and inflammation.
Tip: You can save money when choosing antihistamines by reading the labels of other brands and comparing them to the more popular brands e.g. AllerClear by Kirkland (Costco) – Active ingredient: Loratadine.
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Photo: hemangi28
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