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Grab Your Tissues: Fall Allergy Quiz

FitSugar — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:00:58 -0700

If you're suffering from itchy eyes, sneezing, and a runny nose, taking this little quiz may help relieve your symptoms.

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Get Ready to Sneeze: Ragweed Season

FitSugar — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:30:49 -0700

The unofficial start of ragweed season was Aug. 15.

Seventeen species of this inconspicuous weed grow throughout the US, but mostly on the East Coast and Midwest. Pollen from ragweed adversely affects 10 to 20 percent of the US population. It is estimated that 36 million Americans will suffer through the allergy symptoms of itchy, watering eyes, runny nose, sore throat, congestion, and problems sleeping over the course of the Fall season. If you are allergic to ragweed, you may also have an oral reaction (itchiness and mild swelling around the mouth) to some foods including bananas, cucumbers, zucchinis, and melons.

Ragweed season continues through mid-October. If you're suffering, I have a few tips to help. Learn them when you read more.

Nasal irrigation is a prescription-free way to lessen the severity of sinus allergy symptoms. I am here to say that daily use of a neti pot can work wonders.
Avoid areas where ragweed plants thrive, such as ditches, roadsides, riverbanks, vacant lots, and the edges of wooded areas.
Keep windows closed during ragweed season in order to prevent pollen from getting into your home. Use air conditioning, which cools, cleans, and dries the air. The same goes for when you are driving; use the AC and keep your windows rolled up.
Shower after you spend time outdoors to wash the pollen off.
With the power of the Internet at your fingertips, be sure to check the National Allergy Bureau's reports on pollen counts in your area.

How's the pollen count in your area?

Source: Flickr User gmayfield10

When Are Your Seasonal Allergies Worst?

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Pollen from any old tree, flower, or grass irritates me, so my seasonal allergy symptoms are pretty miserable in the Spring and Summer. Depending on where you live and what's growing, your symptoms may be worse at certain times of the year. So tell me . . .

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Fight Seasonal Allergies With Heat

FitSugar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 03:30:00 -0700

If seasonal allergies are preventing you from breathing through your nose, you can take decongestants, but they'll end up drying you up everywhere, even your lady business. Plus they can make you feel kind of spaced out and tired.

A natural alternative I've found that relieves congestion is to raise your body temperature through exercise. Choose heart-pumping activities such as running, biking, hiking, cardio kickboxing, or exercise in a heated room such as Bikram or Ashtanga yoga. Do it for at least 20 minutes, and once you start sweating, your nasal congestion will start to thin out a little, making it easier to blow your nose and clear your sinuses. Just make sure you have a pack of tissues with you so you can get rid of the mucus instead of sniffing it back in.

If the pollen count is really high outside, do your cardio inside to avoid aggravating your symptoms.

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Smoking Kills but May Prevent Allergies

FitSugar — Tue, 19 May 2009 03:00:00 -0700

Smoking is one of the worst habits you can take up since it's linked to all sorts of health risks such as lung cancer, emphysema, and cardiovascular disease. That's a pretty convincing list to make anyone quit (or never start), but a recent study suggests one surprisingly good thing could come out of smoking - prevention of certain types of allergies.

Smoking cigarettes decreases the body's allergic response by obstructing the activity of mast cells (cells that contain histamine). This study was performed on mouse mast cells, but researches think the same antiallergy effect will hold true for people too. That's not to say you should take up smoking to cure your springtime sniffles and sneezing, but it could help explain why smokers are less susceptible to allergy symptoms.

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Exercising With Seasonal Allergies: It's a Sneeze

FitSugar — Fri, 15 May 2009 11:00:00 -0700

The warm weather brings me outdoors to exercise; since pollen is blowing around, it can also bring on an allergy attack. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, check out these tips when it comes to exercise.

After exercising outdoors, strip off your clothes immediately. Be sure to wash everything before wearing them again to get rid of any pollen. Wash your hair as well to remove pollen that could cause a postexercise reaction.
Be aware of the pollen count outside. Pollen counts are usually highest in late morning and early afternoon, and when it's warm, dry, and breezy. Pollen counts are lowest on rainy, cooler days.
When pollen counts are high, exercise indoors and use an air conditioner to keep you cool instead of opening windows.
Use a neti pot before and after exercising to flush out pollen and mucus from your nose.
Take a hot shower before working out. Not only will it warm up your muscles, but the steam can help relieve sinus and nasal congestion.
If those two didn't help, do some heat-building workouts like running or Ashtanga yoga. Increasing your body temperature through exercise will help thin out the mucus, making it easier to get rid of.

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Allergy Relief: Afrin Pure Sea vs. NeilMed

FitSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 10:00:00 -0700

Using a neti pot is a simple, natural way to combat allergies and nasal congestion, but sometimes you need a little extra power in your nasal irrigation. I just tried two sinus rinse products, which can easily be found in a drugstore. Afrin Pure Sea ($12) and NeilMed Sinus Rinse ($11.50).

The Afrin saline solution is made from purified sea water, from St. Malo Bay off the coast of northern France. The water is isotonically treated, making the concentration of salt similar to that of your body; it is also preservative free. The four-ounce bottle comes with a detachable applicator to be cleaned between uses. To use, press down on the applicator once the tip is positioned inside your nostril, while leaning over a sink or in the shower. I tried the medium stream, but it is available in gentle stream as well.

To learn about the NeilMed product and to see how the two compare, read more.

The NeilMed is a little more do it yourself. You mix salt packets, 50 come with the nasal irrigator, which holds eight ounces of water. The salt packets are considered isotonic and are preservative free. You fill the irrigator with warm distilled water, mix in the salt, and then squeeze the bottle placed against a nostril, over a sink, to rinse your nasal passages.

I feel both these products work, but the NeilMed worked a bit better. Since you exert pressure on the bottle, you have more control over the force. The NeilMed is also more economical, because I believe you will get more applications per package. I found the press-with-cap of the Afrin a little awkward when using my left hand for my left nostril. On the plus side for the Afrin, you don't have to heat or distill your own water, which can be a pain. I used tap water with the NeilMed - who keeps distilled water on hand? While waiting for the water to heat up, I wasted a lot of water and live in a drought zone. The Afrin would also work well if you're traveling and are unsure of the availability or water quality in your destination.

The NeilMed is ultimately more eco friendly as well. You can buy extra packets of salt without purchasing another irrigating bottle. Plus, the water comes from your home or nearby instead of being shipped from France.

Have you tried either of the products? If so, share what you thoughts in the comments section below.

Dealing With Allergies' Side Effects: Dark Circles Under the Eyes

FitSugar — Tue, 05 May 2009 10:00:00 -0700

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, sneezing and a stuffy nose might not be the only side effects you have to suffer through. For some people, nasal congestion can cause blood flow to back up under the eyes, and this causes an allergy shiner. The skin under the eyes is thin and the congested veins in the area can give the appearance of dark circles. Some sufferers may also notice puffiness, because allergies are nature's gift that keep on giving.

To decrease the appearance of the circles, you need get your allergies under control as much as possible. If you know what you're allergic to, avoid it. If that's not a possibility, try allergy medication, which should prevent congestion in your nose and sinuses. If you still notice a dark shadow or swelling under your eyes, I will share my favorite natural remedy when you read more.

Dip a washcloth in cold water, and then ring it out. Hold this cold compress over your closed eyes for about five minutes. You can also use sliced cucumbers instead. Repeat this a few times a day. The cold temperature will help constrict your blood vessels, minimizing darkness, and it will also help minimize tissue swelling.

Also be sure to apply facial sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or 30 under the eyes every day since sun exposure can darken skin even more.

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Speak Up: How Do You Find Seasonal Allergy Relief?

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:00:00 -0700

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.

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Seasonal Allergies, Foods, and Itchy Mouths

FitSugar — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:00:00 -0700

About 20 percent of the population suffers from the itchy eyes, sneezing, runny nose, and sinus congestion that accompany seasonal allergies. Of those people, 25 percent also suffer from oral allergy syndrome (OAS). Symptoms include uncomfortable itchiness, tingling, or swelling in the mouth, lips, or throat when consuming certain fruits, vegetables, or nuts. Proteins in allergy inducing pollens are so similar to the proteins in certain types of foods, and this similarity creates the OAS reaction. Kind of creates a different meaning to "cross pollination." The body recognizes those food proteins as an allergen, and as soon as the person eats the offending food, it triggers their sensitive immune system to release chemicals that cause cells in the mouth and throat to swell. These reactions, called cross reactions, are usually mild and last for 10 to 30 minutes. Only fresh fruits, veggies, and nuts can cause OAS reactions. Eating canned, cooked, dried, or frozen versions of those same foods usually cause no reaction. Also, just so you know, OAS is different than a nut allergy. In order for a person to have OAS, they must have an allergy to pollen.

Are you curious to know which foods are connected to which allergens? Then read more.

Note: Cross reactions may occur with some or all of the foods listed in the right-hand column.

Type of Allergy	Foods That May Cause Cross Reactions
Birch Tree pollen	Almonds, apples, apricots, carrots, celery, cherries, coriander, fennel, hazelnuts, kiwi, lychee fruit, nectarines, parsley, parsnips, peaches, pears, peppers, persimmon, plums, potatoes, prunes, soy, wheat, zucchini, walnuts
Grass pollen	Celery, watermelon, oranges, peaches, tomatoes
Ragweed pollen	Bananas, melons (watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew), gourd family (cucumber, zucchini and squash), chamomile, echinacea, sunflower seeds, zucchini
Alder pollen	Celery, pears, apples, almonds, cherries, hazelnuts, peaches, parsley
Mugwort pollen	Celery, fennel, carrots, parsley, coriander, sunflower, peppers

Just because you have an allergy to one of the pollens listed above, does not mean you'll automatically have a reaction to the foods listed to the right. If you've been noticing swelling, itching, or tingling in your mouth or throat, it's best to get tested by an allergist.

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