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It’s official, spring is here! While many of us are excited about the rise in temperature, if you’re one of the millions of people who have seasonal allergies, you may be dreading what’s to come. Seasonal allergies can mean sneezing, congestion, a runny nose and other unpleasant symptoms. Luckily, there are many steps you can take to minimize the effects and keep allergies under control.
Reduce Your Triggers1
Limiting your exposure to allergens can help reduce your overall symptoms. A few ways you can do so are:
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 allergens.
Remove clothes you’ve worn outside and shower to rinse pollen from your skin and hair.
Keep Your Home Clean
While some allergens may still get into your home, there are many ways you can lessen their impact.
Limit the number of rugs in your home and wash any that are washable
Use air conditioning and utilize high-efficiency filters
Keep your indoor air dry with a dehumidifier
Explore Over-The-Counter Options
Oral antihistamines: Can help relieve sneezing, itching, a runny nose and watery eyes.
Examples include: Claritin, Alavert, Zyrtec Allergy and Allegra Allergy
Decongestants: Provide temporary relief from nasal stuffiness. Only use nasal decongestants for a few days in a row. Longer-term use of decongestant nasal sprays can actually worsen symptoms (rebound congestion).
Examples Include: Sudafed, Neo-Synephrine and Afrinol
Nasal Spray: Most effective when used before symptoms start and can ease most allergy symptoms.
Combination Medications: A combination of an antihistamine with a decongestant.
Examples Include: Claritin-D and Allegra-D
Tria Health Can Answer Your Medication Questions
If Tria Health is offered through your benefits plan, you have the option of receiving a one-on-one, private consultation with one of Tria Health’s pharmacists over the phone. During your consultation, your pharmacist will review all your current medications, including vitamins and supplements. If you’re interested in exploring medication treatments for allergies, Tria’s pharmacist will be able to provide you with recommendations.
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