When the summer season is just around the corner, people have a number of fun activities, events, and festivals to look forward to. Sunbathing, beaches, long days, and a vacation with family and friends sound like ideal summer treats to enjoy. Once the spell of winter is over, people can finally get out of their houses more often, spend quality time outdoors, while also feeling closer to nature. Water parks and pool parties instantly become summer favorites for the young and old alike but even if you do not have anything else to look forward to during the summer, there is always Wimbledon! However, there is one thing that considerably outweighs all the summer fun for several people: allergies. While it’s an absolute relief that when summer arrives, those that are prone to allergies can happily bid farewell to spring allergies, the relief is only short-lived as they prepare to welcome allergens from the summer.
During the spring season, pollen allergy or hay fever is widespread. As unfortunate as it is, even after the spring season allergens stay in the atmosphere for quite some time. The most common among the summer allergens is Ragweed that can travel with the wind. As a result of this, no matter where you are, Ragweed can cause you to get a summer allergy. Furthermore, insects like wasps and bees are far more active under the summer days as compared to any other season. Their stings can sometimes cause allergic reactions that are incredibly severe and intense. Dust mites can also be found in abundance during this time of the year, which can severely aggravate allergies for a lot of people.
More often than not, people also confuse summer allergies with a cold. As a result of this, they take over the counter medicines to treat colds, even though it turns out to be of no use. Summer allergies can get intense for some people, causing continuous sneezing, watery eyes, sore throat, and wheezing, etc. In times like these, allergy relief becomes of utmost importance, considering that severe allergies can otherwise get the best of you and harm your health. Allergies end up restricting people from going about their daily routines and make doing even the most regular chores and tasks difficult. To treat such severe symptoms, there are several over the counter antihistamines out there.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines are medicines that help treat allergy symptoms such as sneezing, congestion or allergies caused by things such as pollen. They are available in the form of tablets, eye drops, as well as nasal sprays. Some of the over the counter antihistamines are Brompheniramine, Telfast, and Zyrtec.
Telfast is an excellent over the counter tablet, especially for those who want to stay away from medicines that result in drowsiness during the day. However, for severe allergic reactions due to bee stings, bites, and food, the ideal solution is the EpiPen auto-injector. Epipen proves to be extremely useful in such situations considering that it helps stabilize breathing, heart rate and also helps with swelling reduction.
Sometimes, people do not want to consume medicines in the form of a tablet, or they cannot do so because of some other reasons. For times like these, a nasal spray is your best friend. One such nasal spray is Nasonex. Nasonex is a nasal spray that comes with a pump. It can be used to take care of both seasonal and other forms of allergies that follow you throughout the year. It can give allergy relief, including sneezing, itchiness, and a runny nose, etc. It is, however, a nasal spray that cannot be bought as an over the counter treatment. It has to be prescribed by a doctor.
Nasonex is not just a regular nasal spray considering that it can also help treat nasal polyps, which are caused by swelling or irritation due to a prolonged allergy. Just like any other medication, Nasonex also has a few side effects. These common side effects include cough, viral infection, and a sore throat, etc.
Precautions we can take
While all of the medications mentioned above can help with allergy relief, there are other steps that one can take to lessen the risk of allergies as well. These steps include keeping your house as pollen and allergen-free as possible by cleaning regularly. Excessive dust can also lead to allergies.
Before going to bed, one should always take a shower to rid oneself of all the potential allergens. One should also wash sheets and clothes frequently. Furthermore, you should always look out for insects and make sure to keep your house insect-free by keeping the doors and windows shut. During allergy season, we should also consider wearing a mask every time we go outside.
Alternative solutions
A more organic solution to treat, as well as avoid summer allergies, is to consume honey. Along with several other health benefits, consuming honey lessens your sensitivity level to pollen over time. Apart from this, one should consume foods that have quercetin because it has properties that can help prevent allergies. It can be found in apples, green tea, and citrus fruits, etc., which are quite popular in the summer.
Despite these allergies that can sometimes outweigh all good things about the summer, we continue to keep our summer spirits high, and that’s all that matters. Whether you’re young or old, everyone loves to soak in the summer sun. Despite that, it is essential to understand that excess of anything can harm you and your health. Summertime, just like any other season, proves to be an enjoyable time for some while others stress over just the thought of it. Either way, just like any other season, summer is a fantastic time of the year with the most delicious fruits and sunshine that we all so dearly long for!