Relieving The Symptoms Of Seasonal Allergies

It is that time of year again. In the autumn, seasonal allergies are affecting people with full force. The symptoms you may have from seasonal allergies can be very annoying and may limit your everyday activities. Here are some of the systems you may have and how to relieve them.

A Brief Explanation

Seasonal allergies affect approximately 40 million Americans annually. Seasonal allergies are caused by the release of pollen or mold spores from plants. During the pollination process, if these are inhaled, they get into our system and our body will treat them as if they were an intruder, such as bacteria. The body's defense is to release histamines into the blood. These try to attack the pollination agents by trying to boost our body's immunity. The result of this attack is seasonal allergies, which mimic cold systems.

What Are The Symptoms?

The first symptom you usually feel when an allergy episode begins would be itchy, watery eyes or a tickle in the back of your throat. The rest of the symptoms you may contract will include:

  • Headache
  • Sneezing
  • Stuffy or runny nose
  • Sore throat
  • Coughing
  • Breathing problem

Relieving The Symptoms

There are ways to relieve the symptoms of allergies right in your own home. One of these would be to periodically fill a bowl with hot water and breathe in the steam. It is best if you place a towel over the bowl and stick your head under the towel. This is a great way to cause the contents inside your nose to loosen, allowing for you get rid of some of the stuffiness when you blow your nose.

Another home remedy is drinking hot beverages. The heat will sooth your throat and may cause your stuffy nose to disappear. Throat drops can also be used to help these symptoms. During peak times of allergy seasons (spring and autumn) keep your windows closed so that the pollen and mold spores do not make their way into your home.

Seeing An Allergy Doctor

If your allergy symptoms are too much for you to handle, you may want to make an appointment with an allergy doctor. An allergist, from a company such as Allergy Partners of the Midlands, will run a bunch of tests to see which plants are bothering you. You will then make a plan for treatment.

Treatment can be as simple as an over-the-counter or prescription medication. They use anti-histamines to block histamines from starting the immunity fight within your body. This will stop the symptoms from starting. If medications take too long to work or do not seem strong enough, your doctor may give you allergy injections in the office. These will release the antihistamines into the bloodstream quickly and effectively.


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