Seasonal Allergies: Nip Them In The Bud

Seasonal….Allergies…two words that indicate some rather inconvenient symptoms for many Louisiana natives that unfortunately come in contrast with the beauty and splendor that defines Spring-time. Like the old saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers…” those flowers are budding and blooming, which increases the amount of pollen in the air, and so “springs” forth our itchy watery eyes, clear runny nose and post-nasal drip that can cause an annoying tickle in the back of our throat leading to a nagging cough or sore throat.

There are some actions you can take that have been shown to reduce both your exposure to allergens as well as its affects. Some of the simplest interventions are vacuuming floors more frequently and also investing in a HEPA or other allergy-reducing air filter for your home. Another tip that takes on a homeopathic approach to reducing allergy-symptoms is to purchase and consume raw honey, local to your specific area. Ingesting a teaspoon of local honey daily is thought to reduce the inflammatory response of your immune system through the exposure of your body to tiny amounts of pollen, therefore giving it the opportunity to acclimate and become less-sensitive.

Lastly, we are fortunate enough to have access to modern medicine and allergy-sufferers can use a large variety of antihistamines for short-term exacerbations available at almost any and every corner convenient store. One of the oldest and safest medications is Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) which boasts powerful anti-histamine qualities while simply causing drowsiness as the main side effect. Several non-drowsy anti-histamines, such as Claritin (Loratidine), Zyrtec (Certirizine) and Allegra (Fexofenadine) can be taken once in a 12-24 hr period and are more suitable for daytime use.

Hopefully these tips will help in the reduction of those pesky allergy symptoms and help us to better enjoy this bountiful and beautiful season of Spring!

April 2019 Blog Post – Dana Vaughn, RN, BSN – Physician Liaison