It's on everyone's lips and noses right now: It's not just allergy season, it's the worst one ever.
Pollen counts are up like never before, especially along the East Coast -- and in addition to all the usual sufferers, more people are suddenly finding out for the first time that they, too, have allergies.
It might seem like there's no end to the wheezes, sneezes, sniffles and coughs -- but in reality, there are simple steps you can take right now to limit and even eliminate the misery.
And it starts with the art of avoidance.
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Knowledge is relief
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Most people suffer from allergies without ever knowing exactly what they're allergic to.
We chalk these things up to "seasonal" allergies, but no one's allergic to a month on the calendar.
You're really just allergic to ragweed, grass or pollen, for example -- and many people assume those common triggers are behind their own runny noses.
It could be all of them... it could be one of them... or it could be none of them at all. It could be, for example, mold -- growing in your basement after a wet spring, or under a pile of leaves that's been rotting all winter.
The only way to know for sure is to work with an experienced allergist to find your real trigger.
In some cases, you might be able to limit your exposure or avoid that trigger completely -- and it might be a whole lot easier than you think.
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Build a better defense
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Many people turn to expensive pills for allergy relief -- pills that can come with side effects ranging from ringing headaches to a foggy, hazy feeling that can be as bad as the allergies themselves.
But the only pills you really need might be ordinary, inexpensive vitamins.
Dr. Jonathan Wright suggests taking as much vitamin C as you can handle three or four times a day. That amount differs for everyone, and the only way to find your limit is to start low and gradually increase your intake until you experience gas or loose bowels.
When that happens, cut back (your friends and family will thank you). Dr. Wright says it can be as low as 1,000 mg per dose for some people and as high as 4 grams for others.
He also suggests up to 1,000 mg of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) along with each dose of C.
If that's not enough, don't try more pills.
Try less stress.
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Stress boosts allergies
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If it seems like being mentally run down can cause your nose to drip like a leaky faucet, it's not your imagination: Research has shown that stress can worsen allergies.
And that's especially true if you suffer from chronic stress.
In one study, researchers gave 28 allergy sufferers a nice, easy day where they sat around and read magazines... and a day of pure misery where they were videotaped, questioned, evaluated and asked to solve math problems without pen or paper.
Skin-prick tests taken throughout the experiment found higher levels of cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), which are indications of an allergic response, during and even in the day after the stressful moments.
Other studies have reached similar conclusions -- so if you're stressed out, find a way to calm yourself, and you might find relief.
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Other allergy beaters
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Not everyone gets relief from the same techniques. Some people swear by honey from local bees, while others have had tremendous success with acupuncture and acupressure.
The research on these strategies is limited, but they're easy, safe and inexpensive enough that you can experiment for yourself to find what works best for you.
Doing nothing will work, too -- because eventually, winter will be here and the levels of pollen and other common allergens will plummet naturally.
Until it's time to bring home a Christmas tree, anyway.
On a mission for your health,
Ed Martin
Editor, House Calls
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