Categories: Chiropractic

Spring Allergies: How to Diagnose, Treat, and Prevent Them

Do you have the sniffles? Are your eyes watering? If so, you may be a victim of spring’s abundance of pollen that’s triggering your runny nose and watery eyes. A warm February caused trees and plants to bloom early, with many blossoming a full month ahead of schedule, allowing for a longer pollen season. As a result, experts say we’re in for a monster of an allergy season.

Before you blame your misery on pollen, however, make sure you don’t have a cold instead. Symptoms of both allergies and colds include stuffy noses, post-nasal drip, and headaches, but if you have fever, muscle aches, and a loud, violent cough, you probably have a cold. Also, if you’ve been suffering for more than about two weeks, you can place the blame on seasonal allergies, which typically last two or more months.

Although you can’t escape pollen, you can use these 10 tips to minimize your exposure:

• Stay indoors during peak pollen times — usually between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 

• Keep pollen from entering your home by keeping doors and windows shut, and don’t use fans that will bring in pollen-bearing air.

• Run air conditioning or air cleaning systems to remove allergens from indoor air. Use high-efficiency filters (HEPA) for best results, but replace them regularly or they become a breeding ground for bacteria.

• When gardening, wear a mask to reduce breathing in pollen and mold, and wash your face and hands when you come inside.

• Shower and wash your hair at night instead of in the morning to remove the pollen your body has collected during the day.

• Keep car windows closed.

• Monitor pets. If your indoor pets go outside, keep them off furniture and bathe them frequently to reduce the pollen they bring inside.

• Wear sunglasses to help shield your eyes from pollen.

• Watch your diet. Certain foods can make your seasonal allergies worse. Those allergic to ragweed could have problems with bananas, melons, zucchini, cucumber, and chamomile tea.

• Use salt lamps. Salt lamps are made from a chunk of salt that has been hollowed out to make room for a small light bulb or candle. Heating the salt produces negative ions which help purify the air of pollen, dust, and other pollutants.

You can also use these five natural remedies to fight the symptoms of allergies:

• Probiotics. An analysis of 23 randomized studies at Vanderbilt University Medical Center found that probiotics, the “good” bacteria found in yogurt, improved the symptoms of people with seasonal allergies, such as sneezing and a stuffy nose, in 17 of the studies. Researchers theorize probiotics change the composition of bacteria in the intestines in ways that modulate the body’s immune response and stop it from reacting to pollen and other allergens.

• Butterbur. A Swiss study published in the British Medical Journal found that one tablet four times a day (32 mg total) of this European herb relieved hay fever symptoms as effectively as the drug cetirizine, the active component of Zyrtec, with none of the drowsiness. Another study compared butterbur to Allegra with similar results. (Caution: Do not combine a drug for allergy relief with butterbur — you may overdose.)

• Quercetin. An antioxidant found in many fruits and vegetables, including apples and onions, quercetin acts as an anti-inflammatory that helps ease allergic symptoms. A double-blind, placebo-controlled Japanese study found that taking quercetin daily for eight weeks significantly reduced itching and irritation of the eyes in people with pollen allergies. Other research has found that quercetin reduces the amount of histamine produced by and released from cells.

• Stinging nettle. In a double-blind trial published in Planta Medica, 57 percent of patients found the herb was better at reducing the sneezes and sniffles of allergy than a placebo. Researchers believe the herb reduces the amount of histamine the body produces in response to an allergen, such as pollen.

• Acupuncture. A study published in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine found that acupuncture reduced the hay fever symptoms of all study participants. Another study found that acupuncture eliminated allergy symptoms in more than half of participants after only two treatments.

Of course, you can always take over-the-counter non-sedating antihistamines, such as Allegra, Claritin or Zyrtec  Take them 30 minutes before going outside.

If your misery doesn’t ease or if your symptoms worsen, see your doctor. Physicians can prescribe cortisone nasal sprays, and immunotherapy in the form of shots or drops under the tongue may be prescribed for those with the most severe symptoms.

Post Disclaimer

Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "Spring Allergies: How to Diagnose, Treat, and Prevent Them" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

We are here to help you and your family.

Blessings

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182

Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
License Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
My Digital Business Card

Published by

Recent Posts

Using Massage Guns for Pregnancy: Benefits and Safety

Stress on the lower back during pregnancy often leads to back (upper, middle, lower), sciatica,… Read More

December 20, 2024

The Power of Melatonin in Enhancing Sleep Quality

Can melatonin help many individuals dealing with sleep issues and help them stay asleep longer… Read More

December 20, 2024

Improving Fitness at Any Age with Kettlebell Training

For older individuals looking for a workout that can help improve overall fitness, can kettlebell… Read More

December 19, 2024

Say Goodbye to Neck Pain: Tips for Selecting the Right Pillow

Can choosing the right pillow help many individuals with neck pain get a full night's… Read More

December 19, 2024

Improve Your Sleep with the Ideal Back Pain Mattress

What is the recommended way to choose a mattress for individuals with back pain?  … Read More

December 18, 2024

Effective Ways to Treat Piriformis Syndrome Without Surgery

Can non-surgical treatments help individuals with piriformis syndrome reduce referred sciatica pain and help restore… Read More

December 18, 2024