You have probably had an experience like this before. Sneezing, coughing and itchy eyes. Symptoms usually occur at the same time every year. This is the description of a person with allergies. You can handle these annoying symptoms using these tips.

Monitor pollen forecasts and plan accordingly. If you have access to the internet, many of the popular weather forecasting sites have a section dedicated to allergy forecasts including both air quality and pollen counts. On days when the count is going to be high, keep your windows closed and limit your time outdoors.

While cleaning your home, avoid using feather dusters, which are notorious for stirring up all kinds of dust and allergens. Instead, gently wipe household surfaces with disposable dirt-grabbing cleaner or microfiber cloths. This ensures that you do not release clouds of dust, pet dander and other allergens into the air.

If you rely heavily on nasal decongestants to treat the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, you may be at risk for experiencing a rebound effect. When this happens, you may experience additional swelling and irritation. If you become hooked on these drugs, you should make an effort avoid using them for a period of 72 hours at a time. During this time, switch to an antihistamine to reduce swelling caused by withdrawal.

If you are exercising outside during allergy season, and you are having trouble breathing, you should consider lightening your outdoor workout. Try running less, or not as hard so it is easier for you to breathe. Exercise is very important so keep it up!

To keep allergies under control indoors, you should use an air conditioner so that you do not have to open windows. You should also consider putting a filter in your air conditioner, in order to filter any outdoor impurities that are trying to sneak their way into your home.

Be sure to wash your hair immediately when you get inside, if you suffer from allergies and there was pollen outside. You do not want to allow the pollen to stay in your hair for too long, as this can trigger your allergy symptoms. It is best to wash your hair twice.

Instead of treating your child’s allergy symptoms only as they occur, discuss preventive measures with a pediatrician. Studies have shown that allergy medications are most effective when taken routinely throughout the year, not just during allergy season. A physician can determine whether or not this approach is appropriate for your child.

People who suffer from food allergies are generally the ones who need to be the most careful. While other types of allergies can be annoying, food allergies tend to be the most fatal. This is especially true of people who suffer from allergies to shellfish or nuts, such as shrimp or hazelnut.

If you suffer from similar symptoms but different allergies, your best bet is to treat your symptoms. This means people who suffer from dry eyes, for example, should always carry some type of eye drops. People who usually get scratchy throats can gargle salt water, too.

Look for a solution. As a pet owner with animal allergies, you may find yourself miserable with symptoms but too devoted to banish your dog to the backyard. While it is impossible to entirely prevent a dog from shedding and producing dander, you do have options. Many have found that regularly taking pets to the groomer makes living with man’s best friend far more tolerable.

If you’ve been outside for an hour or more, you’ve likely collected some airborne allergens. It can help to take a shower when you get home, or before going to bed. A shower will rinse off any lingering pollen or allergens. These irritants might be on the skin or in the hair.

Allergies can lead to post-nasal drip and post-nasal drip can lead to a sore throat. Gargling with salt water is an alternative to medicating your sore throat. All you have to do is mix some warm water with table salt. Swish this mixture in your mouth, and make sure that your head is leaning back. This is very soothing for a sore throat.

Pollen is more active between the hours of 5 a.m. and 10 a.m., so you should try to avoid being outside at that time, if you do not have to be. While pollen will be present at all times of the day, these are the hours where it is more abundant.

Keep your pets out of the bedroom. It’s easy to forget that you spend eight to ten hours a day in your bedroom, so Fido and Kitty need to stay out. Pet hair and dander in your bedding and carpeting can definitely trigger your allergies. It’s better to keep your pets confined to other areas of the home where you spend less time.

Given your new understanding of treatment options, the ball is in your court. Now it is not necessary to suffer with sniffling and sneezing every year. Take the opportunity to breathe freely and enjoy your life. Just integrate some of the above tips into your allergy-care routine.

The Best Allergy Tips Online Just For You was originally published on Spring