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5 Ways to Fight Seasonal Allergies
Start early, consider more than one tactic, and switch meds if one stops working.
When seasonal allergies strike, it’s all-out war for those who suffer, as their bodies’ defenses grow overly defensive. The pollens that cause allergies vary by location and time of year, but can come from trees that bloom in spring or fall-blooming weeds like ragweed — among the most common allergies. Some grasses, including Bermuda and Kentucky bluegrass, can cause allergies.
Each affects an individual differently, if at all.
For sufferers, the immune system sees an allergen as an enemy, triggering the release of histamines, little chemical soldiers that rush to the front lines of the perceived skirmish, like the blood vessels in and around your nose and eyes, where pollen gets in. There they produce a weapon — mucus — causing tissues to swell and push the enemy out.
As histamines win battles, you lose the war, via a runny nose and itchy, watery eyes.
There are almost as many bloomin’ strategies to fight this battle as there are plants you might be allergic to. Some remedies are known to work, at least to some extent for some sufferers. Others are unproven. And the battlefield is littered with side effects.
