FitSugar

Speak Up: How Do You Find Seasonal Allergy Relief?

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:00:00 PDT

A good percentage of the population suffers from seasonal allergies, and springtime can be the worst with all the new plants budding. To find relief, I'm a regular neti pot user and am always telling people to use one too. The warm salt water helps flush pollen, dust, and mold spores out of my nose, which helps prevent symptoms. When dealing with pain from sinus congestion, I also suggest people use a therapeutic warming pillow. The heat helps loosen up mucus, which helps alleviate sinus pressure.

If you too deal with seasonal allergy symptoms, I'm sure you have some great remedies, so share them in the comment section below.

Source

DrSugar Answers: Seasonal Allergies

FitSugar — Tue, 27 May 2008 03:30:00 PDT

DrSugar is in the house and answering your questions.

Dear DrSugar,
I have had a perpetually congested nose for about three or four years now. I didn't have allergies as a child, but I think they developed as I got older.

My symptoms include: frequent sinus headaches, worse in Fall and Spring, congested nose, which runs like crazy when I run, but also it becomes harder for me to breathe through. Am I right in thinking these are probably allergy symptoms? I have never been to a doctor about it – should I see a general physician or an allergist? Thanks!
–Allergy Alice

To see what DrSugar has to say,

Every Spring and Summer allergies flare and people run to doctor’s offices and pharmacies looking for relief. Allergies can be tricky to diagnose and treat, because different people have different symptoms and not everyone responds to the standard treatments. The symptoms you describe, chronic sinus congestion and sinus headaches made worse when outdoors in the Spring and Fall, are entirely consistent with seasonal allergies. Other symptoms include itchy watery eyes, sneezing, and potentially worsening of asthma symptoms.

The first step in treating your allergies is determining what allergens are affecting you, so you can avoid them. If you only have symptoms every year during the Spring and Summer then pollen is most likely the culprit. If you have symptoms all year long then you could be allergic to dust mites or a pet. Allergy detection can be made simply by deduction, but can also be easily tested by an allergist with skin prick testing.

There are many potential treatment options for seasonal and chronic allergies. Since you can't really avoid the great out of doors, taking over the counter oral antihistamines Claritin and Zyrtec may help. Air purifiers can also help remove pollens and other impurities from the air in your home. Other treatments include nasal steroids such as Nasonex or Flonase, which can also be helpful for chronic sinus symptoms due to allergies. I would certainly start by seeing your primary care doctor, but keep in mind that allergists can be very helpful when it comes to difficult allergy problems.

If you have a question for DrSugar, send me a private message here and I will forward it to the good doctor.

DrSugar's posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.

For Better Sleep, Do These 3 Things 20 Minutes Before Bed

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 10 May 2012 05:01:37 PDT

We spend about a third of our lives in slumberland, but many people complain of not sleeping well. If you have a tough time falling asleep or you toss and turn in the middle of the night, try exercising during the day and limiting alcohol and caffeine a few hours before bedtime. But if you are doing this already and still have troubles, here are three things to do immediately before hitting the hay to calm your body and mind and help you get the restful night of sleep you crave.

The Power of Water
Twenty minutes before bedtime, dim the lights in the bathroom, turn on some relaxing tunes on your iPhone and take a warm shower or bath. The heat soothes achy muscles, and the steam clears your sinuses, which is essential if allergy symptoms prevent you from sleeping well at night. It's also a great way to wash away germs and prevent you from getting sick, which can also make it difficult to sleep.

Bye-Bye Pains
After your 10-minute warm bath or shower, slip into your PJs and do five minutes of stretching to ease any pains that prevent you from sleeping. Lower back pain is common for many, so if yours bothers you, here's a yoga sequence to offer back pain relief. If a sore neck and shoulders are your woe, do these soothing stretches. A little self-massage can also ease muscle tension, or apply a heating pad or one of those rice pillows you warm up in the microwave to sore areas.

Get Bored
Now slip into bed, not with a riveting, can't-put-it-down book, but one that has a dull, monotonous, stale topic that's bound to have your eyelids drooping in minutes. Be sure to read from an actual book, not a laptop or iPad, as the lights cue your brain to wake up.

How to Reduce Pet Allergies

Sara Yoo — Wed, 09 May 2012 04:00:00 PDT

We're in the midst of high pollen season, and here at Sugar HQ, we're trading tips on allergy relief almost as much as monthly must haves. As temperatures rise, flowers and trees aren't the only ones shedding sneeze-causing particles: your pet is busy sloughing off fur and dander which can increase the intensity of itchy eyes and runny noses. Of course, you could research the best hypoallergenic pet breed for your home, but if you've already made a dog or cat a member of your family, here are a few tips on keeping the sneezes at bay!

Source: Flickr User Katie@!

In Season: Stinging Nettles

Sara Yoo — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 05:19:04 PDT

Stinging nettle: the name might lead you to believe that this plant is (1) dangerous to touch and (2) a weed. And you would be right. But despite its name and repellent nature, stinging nettles are also edible and delicious and becoming increasingly popular among foraging chefs, thanks to its abundance in the wild. Now in season, nettles could be the perfect addition to your Spring kitchen endeavors. Want to learn more about this prickly plant? Just read on.

The stinging nettle is abundant in North America, Europe, and Asia but can also be found in parts of Africa with moist soil.
The plant gets its name from the tiny, prickly hairs on the leaves and stems that detach from the plant when it's touched and inject a painful chemical concoction.
Stinging nettles have a long medicinal history with uses ranging from arthritis to rheumatism relief to dandruff prevention.
With a flavor likened by some to spinach or broccoli, nettle has become a popular Spring vegetable. Fresh and dried leaves can be steeped in tea that supposedly fights off seasonal allergy symptoms.
Look for stinging nettle at your local farmers market. Many home chefs forage for the weed, but it's important to pick the leaves before the plant begins to flower. Eating mature stinging nettle can cause urinary tract irritation and damage.
The plant is rich in vitamins A, C, iron, potassium, manganese, and calcium and high in protein for a leafy green vegetable.
The stinging hairs on the plant can be removed by soaking the leaves in water, drying, or cooking.

If you manage to track down a bag of stinging nettles, get ready for a treat! Here are a few of the many uses for this culinary weed:

Process blanched leaves with pine nuts, garlic, parmesan cheese, and olive oil for delicious stinging nettle pesto.
Top a Neopolitan-style pizza with pancetta and stinging nettles. Crack an egg in the center a few minutes before it's done.
Replace spinach or asparagus with stinging nettle in a Spring frittata or quiche.
Puree into a savory stinging nettle soup.

Photos: Susannah Chen

Antibiotics Worthless Against Most Sinus Infections, Study Says

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:53:31 PST

When suffering from the pain and pressure of a sinus infection, getting a prescription for antibiotics becomes priority number one. New research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association put this practice into question. Hold onto your tissues folks - scientists found antibiotics don't ease patients' symptoms any faster than placebo pills.

The small study included 166 adults with sinus infections; half were given a 10-day treatment of amoxicillin, a common antibiotic, while the other half were given a placebo. After 10 days, 78 percent of those on antibiotics and 80 percent of those taking the placebo said they felt better or no longer had symptoms. That's because less than two percent of sinus infections are bacterial and require antibiotics to clear up.

Since sinus infections make patients so miserable, doctors often prescribe antibiotics even when they aren't sure if the infection is viral or bacterial. If it's viral, the drugs won't help a lick, and the over-prescribing of antibiotics is contributing to the evolution of drug-resistant bacteria. Antibiotics should only be used when symptoms last over 10 days with no signs of improvement, or are accompanied by a fever.

What's a person to do about the sinus congestion and unbearable pain and pressure? Keep reading for natural ways to get sinus infection relief.

How to Kick a Nighttime Cough Naturally

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:05:23 PST

Whether it's because of a cold or allergies, coughing at night is not only annoying, it prevents you from getting the sleep you need to stay healthy. Before you down cough medicine (which often just masks the cough), you might want to relieve your nighttime cough with one of these natural remedies.

Steam up: Before hitting the hay, create a steam room in the bathroom. Shut the door, don't turn on the fan, and take a hot shower. Let the water gently run on your face, or if that's too intense, place a warm washcloth on your sinuses, allowing the heat and steam to help relieve sinus congestion. You can even use a neti pot in the shower - just be sure to fill it with warm distilled or sterilized water, not the shower water. Using a neti pot after you've breathed in steam can make it more effective.
Get moist: Since dry air can often cause a dry cough (especially in the Winter months when we crank up the heat), moisten the air you breathe by running a cool-mist humidifier on low throughout the night (I'm a fan of this humidifier from Crane). In the morning, be sure to wipe down your windows and windowsills as condensation tends to form, and you don't want this moisture to encourage mold growth, which can also aggravate a cough. Follow the directions that came with your humidifier when it comes to cleaning it, and disinfect it thoroughly at least once a week to avoid mold growth.

Keep reading for more natural ways to beat your nighttime cough.

5 Ways to Beat Dry Eyes

Prevention — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 04:03:25 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

Stay bright-eyed with these simple strategies to stop eye itching and redness
By The Editors of Prevention

Are You Seeing Red? If you find yourself frequently dealing with the itching and burning of dry eyes, you’re certainly not alone. But allergies, pollution, and an overheated office are not the only causes of red, burning eyes: your age may be the real culprit. After age 40, women see a significant reduction in tear production along with eye-drying hormonal changes, the two major reasons why most women over 40 experience dry eyes. And if you wear contacts, expect the itch and irritation to start even sooner. With a few simple lifestyle tweaks and a little help from artificial tears, you can get quick relief from aging’s annoying little side effect.

1. Use Tears Liberally
Use artificial tears as often as you like; doctors say that most people underuse artificial tears. "You can use them as often as needed. From once or twice a day to every 20 minutes," says Dr. Monica. These over-the-counter drops will cleanse your eyes and restore the right kind of tears.

2. Moisten your eyes before blow-drying your hair
To keep from drying your eyes along with your tresses, use artificial tears before and after you blow-dry, says Dr. Monica. For extra measure, moisten your eyes halfway through too.

9 Tips to Healthier, Younger Hair

Learn more ways to beat dry eyes after the break.

Skip the Benadryl! Natural Ways to Relieve Congestion

Michele Foley — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:07:46 PST

Whether it's allergies or a nasty cold, being congested sucks. It's hard to breathe, the sinus pressure is painful, and it can even affect your hearing. Blowing your nose offers some relief, but in cases where you're really stuffed up, it can be pretty futile. OTC medicines help dry out mucus but leave users feeling loopy, sleepy, and spaced out. What's left to do? The next time you're feeling all stuffed up, try one of these natural remedies - you'll be breathing free and clear!

Steam it out: Whether it's a steam room, hot shower, or a makeshift steam bath over a bowl of hot water, steam helps to loosen mucus and relieve congestion from your nose and chest. Intensify the benefits with the addition of eucalyptus oil, a natural decongestant. Whatever method you use, slowly breathe in the steam for about five minutes and then try blowing your nose and/or coughing. This is usually enough time to break up and loosen the mucus in the body. To aid with sleep, use a humidifier; it helps add moisture to the air, which will thin out mucus in your nasal passages.
Grab a neti pot: It might sound a little uncomfortable, but using a neti pot does wonders for relieving nasal congestion and pain - just ask any ear, nose, or throat doctor. Neti pots (in combination with a DIY saline solution) help end nasal congestion by thinning out mucus and built-up crusting in the nose; think of it as a form of nasal irrigation. Still not convinced? Check out these neti pot tips for beginners.

Keep reading for two more ideas after the break.

Jessica Alba Promotes Flower Power and Pain Management

Lauren Turner — Fri, 06 May 2011 14:55:07 PDT

Stylish and pregnant mom Jessica Alba wore a bright floral D&G dress and Stuart Weitzman heels for an appointment in LA yesterday. She stopped by the Pain Relief Center after complaining of lower back issues on Twitter last night. Her growing belly isn't the only thing causing her trouble, since the actress also apparently has some pretty bad allergies. Jessica hasn't let any complications slow her down though, as she's been on the go traveling to NYC for the Met Gala and also stepping out for events closer to home. She should have another fun weekend ahead of her since she'll be celebrating Mother's Day with her family now that Cash Warren has returned to the West Coast from a quick trip to the Big Apple. Check out all the pics of the cute celebrity moms with their kids in honor of the holiday!