It’s Allergy Season

It’s allergy season – are you making your allergies worse?

It is only early spring and already pollen counts are sky high.  Researchers say it is combination of El Nino’s heavy rains and a mild winter that are causing a bigger and stronger allergy season than previous years.  

But did you know some of your daily habits could be making your allergies even worse?

Fruits like melons, tomatoes and bananas may be causing OAS or fruit- pollen syndrome.  When certain foods are eaten, the body's immune system sees and basically mistakes the plant’s protein for pollen, triggering what researchers call a cross-reaction.

If you experience any of the below symptoms after eating a fresh fruit or vegetable you might want to consider removing the food from your diet.

• ·         Itchy or watery eyes
• ·         Swollen or itchy lips
• ·         A tingling in the throat
• ·         Dryness on the roof of the mouth

Dust mites have been known to cause mild to severe allergy symptoms in adults and children.  These little pyroglyphid have been linked to asthma, itchy eyes, running nose, cough and trouble breathing.  How do you fight back?  Stop making your bed!  When you tuck in your comforter and sheets you are also tucking in the bed bugs so that they can reproduce and multiply.   Periodically, toss all bedding into a hot dryer to help kill dust mites.   

And while most of us are happy not to have to make our beds in the morning you may not be so thrilled at our next suggestion – cut out the alcohol.  Studies show that for every extra glass of alcohol you drink your allergies can increase by 3% because of the yeast content. Researchers have found that yeast and bacteria in the alcohol produce histamines. This can increase symptoms of a stuffy nose or/and itchy eyes.

If allergens affect your eyes, causing them to be red and itchy, you might want to ditch the contacts for glasses during pollen season.  The surface of contact lenses are like magnets and will accumulate airborne allergens.  Or, try disposable contacts that can be thrown away at the end of the day to avoid allergen buildup and other irritants that can aggravate already red and itchy eyes.

Now that you know what habits you need to change to keep your allergies from getting worse, learn what product you can take to alleviate allergy symptoms for where you live.   It may not be something you consider often but the geography of your home can greatly affect your health. Attack the root of the problem by selecting the allergy zone you live in and allowing us to suggest a homeopathic remedy to solve your allergy and sinus issues quickly and thoroughly.