It's that time of year again. Spring has officially begun, ushering in the misery of seasonal allergies.
Although fall allergies may be just as bad, the majority of those with allergic reactions to their surrounding environment are affected in the spring, when trees, weeds, and other pollinating plants begin to bloom again after the winter respite.
Most people are only affected by certain kinds of pollen. In the early spring - from now until finals week tree pollen is the main culprit of allergenic symptoms. From late spring into the summer, those suffering from allergic reactions usually blame grass pollen for their affliction.
Most allergenic annoyances are rooted in histamine, a body chemical. Histamines are produced when certain substances, such as pollens, molds, or dry animal skin, come in contact with the body.
Due to your genetic makeup, allergies might affect you, but not your roommate. But even if your parents have allergies, you might just get away without any symptoms. According to Aventis Pharmaceuticals, which makes the allergy medication Allegra, that chance is only 35 percent.
So what can you do when your eyes water and your nose starts running? If the symptoms are mild, you can try several popular antihistamines available over the counter at most drugstores, such as Tavist or Benadryl. You might also try any type of decongestant. Some products (such as Tavist-D) even combine an antihistamine with a decongestant.
If these medications make you drowsy or prove ineffective, a short trip to the doctor may result in a prescription for a medication like Claritin or Allegra.
Other ways to find relief include nasal sprays, a common alternative to oral medication. But sprays are intended for short-term use only, since they can cause a reversal of symptoms - meaning the ailments might actually get worse - or possibly damage parts of the nose.
Another option - intended as a last resort if other medications don't cut it or if you find your seasonal allergies last all year - is allergy shots. These are given at regular intervals for as long as a few years and are intended to immunize the body against whichever allergens affect it. The bonus to the often long process of getting shots is that this treatment can provide relief for a long duration - possibly, an entire lifetime.
Whatever method you use to combat seasonal allergies, a thorough knowledge of your surrounding environment may help as well. For example, a visit to a doctor or allergist may figure out exactly what you are allergic to - it may be only a certain kind of tree pollen, for example.
It is also often helpful to check out the pollen count before you go out each day. For example, when the count is high, running indoors may be much easier than wheezing outdoors. A variety of websites offer this information, including the Weather Channel (www.weather.com), as well as www.pollen.com, which offers a four-day pollen forecast.
This sometimes annoying pollen is produced from plants at various times throughout the year in order to fertilize other plants. These microscopic particles are generally transported in two ways - either insects do the job, or the plant must use wind for transportation. It is this latter case that is so bothersome to allergy sufferers. Unlike animal, food, or medicinal allergies, which can normally be avoided with minimal effort, steering clear of pollen is often impossible without staying indoors all spring, summer, and fall.
