Seasons Spring 2024 | Page 7

· Use both a dehumidifier in combination with a portable high-efficiency particulate air ( HEPA ) filter in your bedroom .
· Routinely clean your home to remove dust and dirt .
4 ) Try an over-the-counter remedy
· Use an oral antihistamine as it can help relieve sneezing , itching , a stuffy or runny nose and watery eyes . Examples of oral antihistamines include cetirizine ( Zyrtec Allergy ), fexofenadine ( Allegra Allergy ) and loratadine ( Claritin , Alavert ).
· Try a corticosteroid nasal spray . These medications improve nasal symptoms . Examples include fluticasone propionate ( Flonase Allergy Relief ), budesonide ( Rhinocort Allergy ) and triamcinolone ( Nasacort Allergy 24 Hour ). Talk to your healthcare provider about long-term use of corticosteroid nasal sprays .
5 ) Rinse your sinuses
· Rinse your nasal passages with a saline solution ( nasal irrigation ) to relieve nasal congestion . This can help flush out mucus and allergens from your nose . Saline solutions can be purchased over the counter as kits . Just make sure to rinse the irrigation device after each use with clean water and leave it open to air-dry .
For most , reducing allergens and trying overthe-counter remedies will help . However , if you ’ re still dealing with bothersome allergy symptoms , talk to your primary care provider about other treatment methods and options . If your allergies are severe , your healthcare provider may give you an allergy shot or refer you to an allergist to have skin or blood tests done to find out exactly which allergens are triggering your symptoms and identify which treatment will be most helpful to you .
7