How to Take the Spice Out of Autumn’s Allergy Onslaught

By Sara Butler

Fall is right around the corner and, for many people, it can’t come fast enough. After all, it is everything-pumpkin-spice season, the only time of the year when you can bust out your decorative gourds -- and the perfect temperature to bust out your favorite flannel.

But not everything in the fall is something you should look forward to, especially if you struggle with allergies. The weeds that have thrived all summer will now have their pollen spread by wind, and that’s not something allergy sufferers look forward to.

If you’re dealing with allergies and not looking forward to autumn because of it, there are a few things the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic want you to know to help you avoid allergies and help you deal with the allergens that sneak through.

Allergies: The Symptoms

If the fall ushers with it watery red eyes, a runny nose, and itchy skin, then you may be one of the millions of Americans who have environmental allergies.

Allergies are your body’s way of saying, “Houston, we have a problem,” but in a way that’s easily confused with other common ailments. That’s because, when an allergen makes its way into your system, your body reacts to the foreign substance by sending an army of immune cells to attack the allergen it has identified as something harmful.

Basically, your body doesn’t know the difference between pet dander and Ebola. This reaction can lead to reactions you may recognize such as:

• Sneezing
• Stuffy, runny nose
• Itching of the eyes, nose, or even the roof of the mouth
• Swollen, red, watery eyes
• Headaches
• Coughing
• Fatigue
• Trouble breathing

Sometimes you can be so allergic to something that it can cause a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. This reaction isn’t common to your run-of-the-mill environmental allergies, but it’s important to know this if you struggle with allergies to insect stings or food.

How to Reduce Your Allergen Exposure

One sure way to avoid annoying allergy symptoms is by keeping down the level of allergens around you. It’s not practical to emulate the boy in the bubble, but there are some things you can do to help.

Experts suggest making your bedroom your allergy-free zone because it may not be reasonable to de-allergen the entire home, particularly if you have pets. A few simple strategies to help subdue the irritating immune triggers are:

• Say goodbye to rugs and carpets - If possible, you should remove from your home all the rugs and carpets that you can. If that’s not possible, then use a HEPA filter vacuum on them a minimum of once per week.
• Protect your pillows (and mattresses) - You don’t want allergens to build up on the place where you rest your head at night, so get protective covers that are washable to place on your pillows and mattress. And while you’re at it, wash your sheets at least once per week.
• Lower the humidity - Do you know what dust mites love? Humidity. So, a great way to fight these invisible foes is to minimize the moisture in your home. Turn on that air conditioner, flip on the dehumidifier, use your bathroom fan when you shower, and don’t forget about the vent fan you have over the stove.
• Get an air purifier - If possible, a HEPA air purifier can reduce the airborne allergens in your home, helping to reduce your symptoms.
• Keep Rover from roving - If you have pets, it’s a good idea to keep them out of your bedroom. If that’s not possible, then at least keep them off of your bed. Even if you have no allergies to your precious pet, they do bring other allergens to the mix such as mold and pollen that they pick up with their fur.

Outside of the home, you can check pollen forecasts and stay indoors if the forecast for the day looks like it’ll make you miserable. If you do enjoy doing things outside, then opt for doing outdoor activities later in the day because pollen counts will be highest in the morning. High pollen counts are also a great excuse to get out of doing lawn work, like mowing, because that tends to stir up allergens. Also, after you’ve been outside, take off the clothes you’ve been wearing and take a quick shower to rinse the pollen off your skin.

How the Chiropractor Can Help

If you’re looking forward to pumpkin spice but dreading the accompanying allergies of autumn, then discuss it with your chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic. Regular chiropractic visits can work to reduce joint dysfunctions and increase the communication between the brain and the rest of your body. When things are working more efficiently, then your body may be able to better tolerate the allergens you encounter.

If your autumn allergies are already making you feel itchy, have no fear! Implementing a few simple strategies to reduce outdoor allergens inside the home, combined with regular visits to the chiropractor, means you’ll be sipping your favorite pumpkin spice latte in that cozy sweater soon without a watery eye in sight.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this page are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics, including but not limited to the benefits of chiropractic care, exercise and nutrition. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your chiropractor, physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this page.