It’s spring, and for many that means stuffy noses, sneezing, and difficulty breathing. Allergies are no walk in the park, and it can be difficult for suffers to make it through spring, and there are signs that this spring has been a bigger battle than usual.
A Gallup-Healthyways poll, which polls how individuals grade their own allergy issues, indicated that more people reported allergy symptoms this spring than previously. The difference was greatest in March, but results from April are also indicating a similar trend.
Many believe the reason for these changes in statistics is due to the warmer temperatures this March, which led to more pollen earlier than usual. If this is indeed the case, chances are the numbers will drop a bit earlier as well, as pollen in the air decreases earlier than in previous years.
One problem with the survey is that many people taking allergy medications may answer the telephone poll’s question of “Are you suffering from any allergy symptoms” with a negative answer, as the medicine treats the symptoms. So the numbers could be even higher than reported.
According to the poll, about 20% of Americans suffered from allergies in March, up from last years 16%. Currently the numbers in April are about 23%.
If you are one of the many sufferers of allergies, there are a few things you can do to keep your symptoms in check. Ideally, you should always pay a visit to your doctor and get their advice. Meanwhile, try to stay indoors as much as possible. While this option isn’t an easy one for everyone, staying indoors limits the amount of pollen you are exposed to, limiting your symptoms.
Take your shoes off – Don’t go tracking everything all over your house. Leave your shoes at the door. Vacuum and mop your home regularly.
Try over the counter medication – Your doctor may prescribe something stronger, but if you are like me, those medications can knock you out, and make it hard to function. Many of the over-the-counter treatments are enough to keep my relatively mild symptoms in check without too much discomfort. Try these solutions if your symptoms haven’t gotten out of control.
Wear a facemask – I know it sounds silly, but in some regions of the world, it is not unheard of to go around in a medical facemask if you are ill. Why not wear one for those few days a year you struggle with allergies if you need to leave the house? They are cheap, and they are easy to take on and off.
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