Personal Best Health Wellness - Relieving Allergy Symptoms

How to lessen the blow of allergy symptoms …

Down with a summer cold? Congestion, runny nose, coughing and sneezing are typical of both colds and allergy. But catching a cold virus is less common during the warm months in North America, so your symptoms might be caused by an allergy — to dust, molds and seasonal pollen.

More clues: Itchy, watery eyes and nose are typical of allergy. Your symptoms will last as long as you're exposed to the allergen — they may come and go — while a cold clears up completely in a week or so.

Self-care solutions: Reduce your exposure to allergens as much as possible. Close the windows and rely on air conditioning. Check the pollen count and schedule

Avoid additional irritants such as tobacco smoke, hair spray, perfume and detergents, which can worsen your symptoms.

Ask your health care provider to recommend medications to relieve symptoms, and prevent them; some of the newer drugs have minimal side effects.