Allergies and Enjoying the Outdoors

If your allergies include dust and pollen from nature, you may find it difficult to enjoy the great outdoors. At first I didn't realize I had allergies, I just assumed I had a cold. But when these symptoms seem to never go away, I began to suspect I had allergies. Do you know the difference between an allergy and a cold? Or, if you do have an outdoor allergy, do you know what you can do to curb your symptoms to still enjoy the outdoors? I'll try to answer both questions.

Do you have an allergy or a cold? Allergies and colds are similar in symptoms. As you can expect, allergy symptoms can varies among people. You can see runny eyes, runny noses, sneezing, congestion, wheezing, itchy nose and throat, and possibly coughing. However, these symptoms, you may say, is a lot like a common cold. So how do you determine the difference?

Allergies Symptoms

The following are simple clues that you have an allergy.

• You will have symptoms almost immediately after exposure to the allergens. You will start to sneeze, your eyes may start to water and itch, and additional symptoms will continue to escalate until you remove yourself from the immediate exposure.

• If you have seasonal allergies, such as hay fever, the symptoms will happen around the same time every year.

• If you are unlucky, and you have perennial allergies, such as an allergy to dust, you can expect these symptoms to be present year-round.

Cold Symptoms

With a cold, the symptoms are a little different. You will have:

• A runny nose with watery to thick yellow discharge

• Sneezing

• Low grade fever

• Weakness and fatigue

Symptoms of a cold will develop within one to three days after exposure to a cold virus. Moreover, your misery will last usually for five to seven days.

You can enjoy the outdoors, even if you have allergies. The only difference between you and a non-allergy individual is that to enjoy the outdoors you will need to take some precautions.

1. Minimize your walks in wooded areas or in gardens.

2. You should keep an eye on the daily forecast. During the summer months, most local news channels will give you a pollen count. Nevertheless, one known fact is that when the weather is hot, dry, and windy, you can expect the pollen count to be high.

3. If you have asthma, try to avoid extreme temperature changes. Extreme temperature changes can be a trigger for your asthma symptoms to develop.

4. Try to remain indoors between the hours of 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. because this is when outdoor pollen seems to be at its highest.

5. For those individuals allergic to grass pollen, you can wear a mask when mowing the lawn or gardening. Doctors advise their patients to avoid mowing and being around freshly cut grass, However tell me, is it truly possible to do it all the time? I do not think so, unless you want to live in a protective bubble.

6. If you are allergic to mold, you should avoid raking leaves or working with hay or mulch.

7. You should take a shower, wash your hair and change your clothes after being outdoors. This will remove the pollen that may have collected in your clothes and hair while you were outdoors.

8. Even though you may love the smell of fresh linen or clothes that have been hanging on a line outside to dry, it can make your allergies worse. Why? Pollen and molds may collect in them and can make your allergies worse.

9. Rely on air conditioning, and an allergen filter to keep dust and other airborne allergens at bay.

Everyone knows that the first solution to treating an allergy is to avoid the allergen that will cause you to have the problem. However, even if you stay indoors all the time, you cannot avoid every airborne allergen. Sometimes, if you love nature, or you like to smell the freshness of a warm breeze going through your house, allergens will be present.

However, you can take some medications that will help to control the symptoms. Effective medications can include antihistamines and topical nasal steroids. They can be used alone or together to help relieve symptoms.

In addition, many allergy medications that once could only be prescribed by a doctor, is now available over the counter.

In fact, it may be wise to ask your doctor which type of over-the-counter allergy medicine you should take, because some of the cheap generic allergy medicine on the market can be harsh on your body and make symptoms worse instead of better.

That happened in my case. I was taking a generic allergy medicine that would always step me into a sinus infection. I finally asked the doctor what generic over-the-counter allergy medicine would help my allergies, without kicking me into a sinus infection. He suggested the generic version of Loratadine. When my eyes are watering and I'm sneezing I will take the Loratadine. When I'm congested I'll take Tussin CF. Between the two different medicines I'm keeping my indoor and outdoor allergies at bay without kicking me into a sinus infection.

There is one additional item that seems to help, and that is the Nettie pot. The Nettie pot helps to clean out my sinuses, as well as, prevents dryness in the sinuses, both of which, can throw me into a sinus infection.

Overall, it is important to listen to what your body is telling you. why? Different medicines help different symptoms. Once you learn that important lesson, you'll find you will have better control over your allergies. If you try to ignore your symptoms, expect numerous visits to the doctor.