If springtime has you rubbing your eyes and blowing your nose more than normal, you’re likely suffering from seasonal allergies alongside around 25% of the U.S. adult population.[1] Allergies show up when the body’s immune system misidentifies a harmless foreign substance as being harmful. While there are more serious symptoms that occur with things like food allergies, the most common symptoms of seasonal allergies include sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, and digestive issues.
An over-the-counter allergy medication might be the first thing you reach for when the allergy symptoms show up, but there are other allergy essentials you should stock up on to prepare for the season and give yourself the best chance of limiting those symptoms before they even start.
Stay Consistent With Medications
Those over-the-counter medications, along with natural supplements and vitamins, can help ward off allergy symptoms. Keeping them stored in a pill organizer can make your routines easier and more consistent, helping with your adherence and subsequently the medications’ or supplements’ effectiveness.
Clear Allergens at the Source
A congested sinus and runny nose can be two of the more common constant symptoms of seasonal allergies. A nasal aspirator and nasal rinse can help drain sinuses, reduce congestion, and physically remove allergens from the nasal passages. Clearing these allergens eliminates the problem at the source and is a great addition to a nighttime allergy routine.
Support Better Sleep and Comfort
While not the first product people reach for when allergies hit, ear plugs can help in more ways than one. They can help provide relief from ear pressure and sensitivity that is created by allergy-related sinus inflammation. They can also help dampen internal noises from breathing or chewing, as these sounds can become louder and more intrusive when you’re congested. Ear plugs can also be an important part of creating a quieter, more restful sleeping environment. Sleep disruption can actually worsen allergy symptoms, so using these can help you get better sleep by blocking out environmental noise.
Block Allergens Before They Enter
Since most seasonal allergies, like dust and pollen, are breathed in, blocking them from entering your airways is an essential place to start. An N95 or earloop face mask is especially useful during times of high pollen, days when you’re outside a lot, or traveling.
Unexpected Allergy Essentials You Might Be Overlooking
Eye Care
Some common symptoms of allergies are itchy, watery, irritated eyes. For those who wear glasses, these symptoms can be magnified by allergens like dust and pollen that stick to their glasses throughout the day. Lens cleaning wipes are important to keep on hand to keep glasses and sunglasses allergen-free to reduce the instance of re-exposure.
Travel and Portable Storage
Whether a pill case, reusable pouch set, bi-fold organizer, or silicone jars, travel products can help keep your allergy essentials handy while you’re on-the-go. Many of these items have multiple uses and can carry things like allergy medications, tissues, or nasal balms, helping to keep your routines consistent while traveling.
Ear Care
Seasonal allergies can contribute to pressure and fluid buildup. Keeping your ears clean will help reduce irritation and ease discomfort during allergy season. An earwax removal kit and ear syringes can help clear the ears, decrease irritation and pressure, and increase comfort.
Hot/Cold Therapy
Hot and cold therapy works for treating allergy symptoms similar to how it helps with athletic recovery or general body care. A warm compress improves blood circulation, which can help open nasal passages and thin mucus, allowing for more movement in your sinuses. A cold compress can reduce any swelling and irritation, like from puffy eyes. These are fast, drug-free ways you can relieve symptoms.
Create an Allergy-Friendly Environment
Along with helpful allergy essentials to limit symptoms when they do appear, do your best to create an environment that is as allergen-free as you can. Keep windows closed on high pollen days and change your air filters regularly to improve indoor air quality. Check on pollen counts—which are typically highest from mid-morning to early afternoon and during warm, dry, windy weather—and stay indoors or use more caution when you’re out during those times. After spending time outside, shower and change your clothes so you limit exposure to any allergens that you may have come in contact with. Wash blankets and bedding more frequently than normal to help prevent allergens from piling up where you sleep. It’s also important to know which specific allergens you’re sensitive to.
Create a Simple Nighttime Allergy Routine
Allergy symptoms can feel worse in the evening, partially due to an increase in allergens present in the bedroom, but also as a factor of higher histamine levels at night as well as lying flat.[2] Build a routine as you wind down at night that will help reduce the factors that you can control. Taking a shower in the evening, wearing clean sleepwear, and washing bedding—especially pillowcases—more frequently reduces the number of allergens in your bedroom. Doing a nasal rinse can help clear out any lingering allergens to clear your passageway and make breathing easier. It’s also a good time to take regular medications or supplements, as long as they’re ones that don’t interrupt sleep. Finally, don’t forget to keep those ear plugs close.
While over-the-counter medications are often the most common solution to allergies, the allergy essentials, products, and tips above can help create a more complete solution to your allergy care. These tools help you stay organized, sleep better, create healthy routines, and reduce exposure to everyday triggers. Small, consistent habits can go a long way in making you feel more in control during allergy season. If symptoms don’t get better after consistent use of these routines, check in with a doctor to confirm your specific allergy triggers and if there is a more targeted treatment option for you.
References
1. Centers for Disease Control. Allergies. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/allergies.htm
2. Carolina Asthma & Allergy Center. Why Are Allergies Worse at Night and in the Morning? https://www.carolinaasthma.com/blog/why-are-my-allergies-worse-at-night/
