Nasal Allergies

10 Ways to Combat Nasal Allergies

Nasal allergy, also known as allergic rhinitis, has been a problem for many people, hampering their smooth day-to-day activities. The running nose along with nasal congestion and constant sneezing can be unbearable, forcing us to take complete rest. This chronic allergic ailment is also associated with itching eyes and headache.

But the good news is that this nagging problem can be kept under the leash. So, let’s take steps to be in control of this.

You can do this in the following ways –

1. Seek the advice of an allergist or fix an appointment immediately, if you have been consulting one. With their special knowledge, they would be able to specify the allergy triggers. Moreover, they also aware of the latest available treatments of nasal allergies.
2. Prepare an ‘Allergy Action Plan’ after thoroughly interacting with your medical experts. In case you have asthma-like many others, who suffer from nasal allergies, then you should develop an ‘Asthma Action Plan’. These action plans are basically documents that list your allergy triggers and common symptoms, as well as the recommended measures that should be taken up to alleviate them, depending upon their degree of intensities of the asthmatic or allergic attacks.
3. Be part of the decision-making process concerning the mode and treatments. Since it is your body, you should be able to do the most precise and objective analysis of the allergic condition. So, in order to manage it effectively, try to be enlightened about all the different facets of the allergies and interact with the doctor actively about it.
4. Develop the knack to notice the allergy triggers. You can notice them only if you are aware of them. By this, you can even minimize the doses of medication needed to check the allergy. You should be particularly cautious of the most common allergy triggers like tree/weed/grass pollens, dust mites, mold, dust mites, insect dropping, etc.
5. Take your medicines promptly. If you happen to take it throughout the year, then probably it is not a problem. But you may only suffer from it seasonally. In such cases, by the time you take your dose of medicines, chances are that, you are already afflicted by it. In order to effectively control your seasonal allergies, you should start the course of medicines one week prior to the beginning of the allergy season. This gives the required time for the medicines to have an effect on your body before the manifestation of the allergy triggers. For instance, if you suffer from tree pollen allergies, then it is better to be under the medication at least from the beginning of the month of March. Hence, consult your doctor much before that and be ready with some medicines.
6. You may also try some alternative treatments in order to check the allergy symptoms. Although they are not always dependable as compared to medicines, still they are much easier and less invasive options. And they are not as costly as medicines. Even if it wouldn’t fully cure the allergy, it may obviate the need for taking a full course of medicines. So, it is something worth trying. You can know more about the different alternative treatments for nasal allergy here.
7. Try to discern the different symptoms of common cold, allergies, and asthma. Many of these symptoms are alike, but since the treatments are different, it is important to differentiate them to take up the right treatment at once. You can get to know more about them here.
8. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation has come up with a certificate program to test the different products like toys and validate that they do not contribute towards the manifestation of the allergies. So, you can use some of the ‘allergy products’.
9. Know about things that can aggravate the allergy. Some of the most common allergy triggers have been enumerated in the 4th point. But there are some things that even though do not activate an immune system change like the allergies, can surely deteriorate the prevailing allergy symptoms. They include:

• Aerosol sprays
• Air pollution
• Cold air (outside or from air conditioning)
• High humidity
• Irritating fumes
• Tobacco smoke
• Wind
• Wood smoke

10. If unfortunately, your children suffer from allergies, try to educate the teachers and other staff in the school about it. Tell them regarding the allergy and asthma triggers to make the classrooms and school surroundings safe for children suffering from it.