Allergy Season is Here...

For me, springtime was my least favorite time of year, solely due to my allergies. Starting from March and ending around August, typical symptoms included constant sneezing, a runny nose, itchy throat and itchy eyes.

For almost all high schoolers attending my school, no one seemed to be having any problems with their allergies. They never sneezed or scratched their eyes. I was always wishing that my allergies would disappear one year, never to return once more. 

This year, I thought my allergies were gone for good. However, my allergies came earlier in January. Instead, I found myself constantly sneezing, with each sneeze initiating a stream of mucus. My eyes got super itchy and I found myself scratching them until they hurt.  The constant sneezing made my throat sore. According to my calculations, four hours of outdoor exposure resulted in never-ending allergies.

If sleeping was a way to escape my allergies, there was no escape this year. I woke up in the middle of the night with a stuffy nose.  After an hour of tossing and turning, I finally was able to sleep.  

As a person with severe spring allergies, I’ve discovered a few ways to make the experience a bit better for myself. For me, taking the typical allergy medication doesn’t work, so I had to discover ways to rid myself of my allergies.

1. When having a stuffy nose, doing a pushup or two can relieve you of it for a few minutes. Sometimes, the relief can last as long as thirty minutes, which gives me enough time to sleep.
2. Nasal sprays can help!  In the past, using nasal sprays have helped me get rid of my allergies. I generally used nasal sprays once a day, for seven days, to help rid me of all of my allergy symptoms! However, I don’t like the after-taste of the spray because it tastes quite bitter. 
3. Use eye drops. Itchy eyes might be a result of springtime pollen, but it can also be a result of dry eyes. Use allergy eye drops to get rid of the itchiness. After using Zaditor eye drops, I was relieved to discover that my eyes were no longer itchy. 
4. Talk to your doctor. Your doctor can help you discover what you’re allergic to and can prescribe the appropriate medication to help decrease the symptoms of your allergies.

Springtime allergies can be a pain but just remind yourself that they will eventually end. By taking the appropriate steps to relieve yourself from symptoms, you can make it out of spring alive. 

Do you have springtime allergies?  Let me know in the comments below.

-Jade
​Photo credit: Piper