May 16 – As climate change continues to affect the globe, more people are suffering from airborne allergens year-round, with pollen, dust, mold, and animal dander acting as the main culprits.

So how do allergies occur?
It boils down to our immune system. Some people’s immune system is oversensitive and will react to allergens it mistakenly identifies as harmful by producing antibodies. The immune system’s reaction to allergens can range from mild to severe with the itching of the nose, eyes or roof of the mouth, having a runny, stuffy nose and/or watery, red or swollen eyes.

What to do?
1- Make dietary changes
Adding certain foods to one’s diet could help relieve allergy symptoms such as ginger, citrus fruits, apples, pineapples, tomatoes, turmeric, onions, salmon and other oily fish, and nuts.

2- Take vitamins and food supplements
The best approach is to always maintain a healthy diet, but for an extra boost to an oversensitive immune system, food supplements are recommended.
Besides anti-histamine products [try Cedallym], other vitamins could also provide relief from allergies such as Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Vitamin A.

3- Use saline nasal irrigation
A neti pot or squeeze bottle can wash away pollen and other allergens that found their way in the sinuses, so flushing them out can provide relief.

4- Change clothes and shower
If one has been outside, it is best to shower ad get into a new change of clothes so that one removes pollen from skin, hair and clothes.

5- Use humidifiers
Make sure to properly maintain a humidifier when using it so it can work to reduce allergy symptoms and improve the health of the mucous membranes of the airway instead of worsening it with the growth of bacteria and fungi.

6- Use clothes dryer
Avoid hanging laundry outside as pollen can stick to wet clothes opting instead to use the dryer.

7- Stay indoors
If possible stay indoors especially on windy and dry days to avoid irritability and higher sensitivity to the weather conditions.

8- Wear a mask
To get chores done outdoors, it is best to wear a mask to ease discomfort from a variety of airborne allergens.

If symptoms worsen or become severe, a visit to a doctor is highly recommended, especially as untreated allergies can sometimes progress into sinus infection.