If you have seasonal allergies, then you already know how miserable this time of year can be. A runny nose, sore throat, itchy eyes and nonstop sneezing combined with the heat and humidity leads to one miserable summer. But, what if there was a way – a couple of ways actually – that you could relieve your symptoms? Well, you’re in luck because here are five surefire ways to help ease your symptoms so that you can actually enjoy your summer.
1. Get in the cleaning mood.
Are you a pack rat? If you answered “yes,” then it may be time to throw away some stuff, have a garage sale or donate it to your church or local Goodwill since clutter does nothing but collect dust, making your allergy symptoms worse. Be sure to wear a mask as you’re clearing things out.
2. Switch up your diet.
Did you know that eating certain foods can trigger allergy symptoms? No? Well, now you know. So, if you’re allergic to pollen, stay away from kiwi, apples, peaches, plums, cherries, carrots and almonds. Allergic to ragweed? Avoid bananas, melons and tomatoes. To learn more, visit the BlackDoctor.org Allergy center. For some specific foods that help reliever allergy symptoms, be sure to check out this article.3. Change your contact lenses.
These days, more and more of us are wearing contact lenses as opposed to glasses, which may be convenient for you but your allergies? Not so much. You see, the allergens can get trapped in your contacts, causing your eyes to itch like crazy. For a little relief, you can wear your glasses on some days or you can switch to disposable contacts until the allergy season is over.
4. Drive smart.
On your way to and from work, the grocery store, school to pick up the kids, wherever, be sure to use the recirculation mode in your car to keep the pollen from getting in because sneezing and reaching for the Kleenex box while driving can be a dangerous situation.
5. Invest in an air purifier.
Doing so can remove up to 99 percent of allergens (pollen, ragweed, pet dander, etc.) in your home and the best part is that you can expect relief in 48 hours or less, according to the Air Purifiers American website.