Allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the United States, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Unfortunately, there’s no cure.
In the depths of an allergy attack, it can feel like relief will never come; however, with the information below, you may be able to ward off symptoms and improve the treatment of seasonal flare-ups.
What are the symptoms of seasonal allergies?
Allergy symptoms can include sneezing, nasal congestion, a drippy nose, itchy or watery eyes, a scratchy throat, wheezing and other respiratory issues.
How can you minimize the symptoms?
To prevent those symptoms, consider watching the weather and staying indoors on windy days or when pollen counts are high. If possible, try avoiding allergen-disturbing activities, such as mowing the lawn or pulling weeds.
Wearing a face mask is another way to protect yourself from allergens, as is using a home air purifier with a HEPA filter. Keeping your home clean and dust free may help, too, and a vacuum designed to mitigate allergens can make the task easier.
Can you treat allergy flare-ups at home?
You can treat allergy symptoms at home with over-the-counter products, using them as directed and recommended by your doctor. Options include oral antihistamines, nasal sprays, oral decongestants and saline sinus rinses. Nasal steroid sprays and allergy shots are other treatments; however, these must be prescribed by a healthcare provider.
When should you see a healthcare professional?
It’s usually unnecessary to visit a healthcare provider for allergies. However, for severe or unrelenting symptoms, you may want to ask your doctor for a referral to an allergy specialist.
If you’re wondering what allergy treatment options your health insurance covers, get in touch for help figuring that out — and feel free to reach out if you have any health or life insurance concerns.