It’s the worst feeling in the world. Just as the days are getting longer and warmer for you to sit outside with ice tea, go for a walk with the dog and enjoy the lovely days of spring, you’re stuck at home with a box of tissues. Each year you get watery eyes, a runny nose, and of course, sneezing that doesn’t seem to end.

Seeing the daffodils blooming may come with a side of discomfort and suffering for people with seasonal allergies. Your bodies seem to be more sensitive to changes in their environment during the seasonal transition. Plus, the rising pollen levels over the years resulting from climate change can worsen your symptoms.

3 Simple Strategies to Manage Allergy Symptoms

As you shed your winter coat and gloves, add these three simple strategies to prep your body and keep allergy symptoms at bay!

1. Skip the evening drinks.

What does alcohol have to do with your stuffy nose and itchy-watery eyes?

It turns out that alcohol can either cause or worsen your allergy symptoms.  First off, the sulfites in alcohol can increase blood flow to areas in the body (like your sinuses) that are already inflamed. This leads to more inflammation. These alcohol-induced nasal symptoms (ANS) are even twice as frequent in women than in men. 

Another 2008 study of thousands of women revealed that having more than two glasses of wine a day almost doubled their risk of experiencing allergy symptoms. What was more interesting is that the risk remained for women who were allergy-free at the beginning of the study.

Sometimes, the problem is not always with the liquor itself but with histamine, a compound produced by bacteria and yeast while the alcohol was fermented. People who generally have trouble with histamine in their alcohol, particularly wine, typically lack an enzyme in their intestines that can help metabolize the compound. If skipping alcohol for the day (or evening) is out the question, stick to one glass as much as possible.

 

2. Be mindful and diligent in monitoring your environment.

Your next simple step is to monitor your surroundings and adjust accordingly. Here are a few practical measures you can take to avoid pollen exposure as much as possible:

• • Check the daily pollen count where you live.
  • Delegate gardening chores that can potentially stir allergens such as weed pulling and lawn mowing.
  • If possible, stay indoors during dry, windy days when the pollen count is at its highest. The best time to spend time outdoors is after a quick rain shower which helps clear pollen from the air. Wear high quality masks if you have to go out when the pollen count is high.
  • After spending time outdoors, get rid of pollen by taking a shower and keeping your clothes separate from indoor clothes.
  • Exercise outdoors in the late afternoon or early evening when the pollen count is often the lowest in the day.
  • Keep your indoor air clean with a high-quality air purifier. HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Arresting) are popular choices for people with seasonal allergies because they suck air through filters that trap impurities like pollen and pet dander. Clean air is eventually released into the room. Several studies have shown that these types of air purifiers can significantly reduce irritants in the air.

3. Nip seasonal allergies in the bud with the right nutrition and supplements.

In addition to specific lifestyle changes such as skipping alcohol and monitoring your environment, pay attention to your diet and steer clear of your food triggers.

Adding superfoods like local raw honey and probiotics have been shown to help manage symptoms of seasonal allergies.

At Hauser Health, we typically recommend a high-quality health supplement if you have seasonal allergies.

Choosing the Right Supplement to Anticipate Seasonal Changes

For those with seasonal allergies, we usually recommend BReathe.  This powerful supplement contains the following:

• • Quercetin is a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to boost immune health.  Quercetin is known for its ability to stabilize inflammatory mast cells which in turn slows down the release of histamine.
  • Bromelain is a plant enzyme found in pineapples. It enhances the absorption of quercetin, supports mucosal tissue health, and aids in the breakdown of antigenic (triggers an allergic reaction) compounds.
  • Stinging nettles leaf controls mast-cell degranulation, prostaglandin formation, and histamine action,  all of which contributes to a balanced inflammatory response. Studies have shown that the extract of stinging nettles leaf balances a variety of inflammatory activities that affect respiratory health.
  • N-acetyl cysteine (NAC)  is a precursor of one of the most important antioxidants in the body, glutathione.  Both glutathione and NAC help reduce the viscosity of the mucus allowing for clearing of the airways and improved respiratory health.
  • Vitamin C’s ability to deactivate histamine makes it an excellent addition to dHISTify.

When choosing the right health supplements, it’s best to choose physician-grade supplements from a like-minded doctor. At Hauser Health, we’ll examine your medical history, symptoms, and current lifestyle to design a custom-made supplement plan for you.

If you’re in the Maryland, Pennsylvania, or Virginia area, schedule a consultation with us today and we’ll help prep your body for seasonal allergies.