How to Ease Your Allergy Woes

by Samantha Morgenstern, assistant Web editor

Itchy, watery eyes, sneezing and hacking away in the middle of class. Tons of tissues, Zyrtec, Claritin, and lost sleep. Sound familiar? This allergy season has been particularly uncomfortable and brutal for the 36 million people who suffer from allergies in the U.S. alone (Parade magazine, Sept. 14, 2008). Until the winter months set in, here are some tips on how to survive more comfortably:

Try to close your windows at night to keep allergens from blowing in your bedroom, make sure to dust your furniture and don’t keep fresh flowers in your room.

Keep your car windows closed while driving. Keep up with your allergy medication dosage, and find the brand that works best for you, even if you have to take prescription medication for a season.

Use the allergy season as an excuse to avoid mowing the lawn or raking the leaves.

Peak hours are between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m., so try staying indoors. Use air conditioning and change the filters often, and try to kick the smoking habit, because it can intensify allergy symptoms.

Don’t hang clothing out to dry outside, because it can collect dust and allergens, and definitely avoid using feather pillows. Wash your bedding weekly. Shower and wash your hair before bed to eliminate pollen.

Drink lots of water and avoid milk, which can make congestion worse. Try tea, spicy foods or even a humidifier to help with decongestion.

To eliminate some of the confusion from buying allergy medicines, antihistamines are meant to be taken before being exposed to allergens and decongestants are only meant to be used for a short period of time (about three days). Zyrtec claims to start taking affect two hours faster than Claritin and temporarily relieves runny noses, itchy, watery eyes, itchy throat, and sneezing. Zyrtec D adds nasal congestion to the list of symptoms it temporarily alleviates. Claritin advertises 24-hour relief without drowsiness.

Hopefully you find some relief with these solutions until the first frost the end of allergy season arrives.