by Natalee Garcia: Staff Writer Spring means flower buds and blooming trees and if you're one of the millions of people who have seasonal allergies, it also means sneezing, congestion, a runny nose and other bothersome symptoms.
Seasonal allergies also called hay fever and allergic rhinitis can make you miserable. But before you settle for plastic flowers and artificial turf, try these simple strategies to keep seasonal allergies under control.
Stay indoors on dry, windy days.
The best time to go outside is after a good rain, which helps clear pollen from the air.
Delegate lawn mowing, weed pulling and other gardening chores that stir up allergies.
Remove clothes you've worn outside and shower to rinse pollen from your skin and hair.
Don't hang laundry outside, pollen can stick to sheets and towels.
Wear a pollen mask if you do outside chores.
Always keep your indoor air clean, use a ton of air conditioning in a high efficiency filter.
During these times it is also good to check with your doctor about the best over the counter medications for your symptoms). The most effective OTC are oral antihistamines for sneezing, itching, a runny nose, and watery eyes. Decongestants are to help relieve nasal congestion. Nasal spray is kind of the same as decongestants but eases allergy symptoms and has less serious side effects.
If you have bad seasonal allergies, your doctor may recommend that you have skin tests or blood tests to find out exactly what allergens trigger your symptoms. Testing can help determine what steps you need to take to avoid your specific triggers and identify which treatments are likely to work best for you.
For some people, allergy shots can be a good option. Also known as desensitization, this treatment involves regular injections containing tiny amounts of the substances that cause your allergies. Over time, these injections reduce the immune system reaction that causes symptoms.