It seems like just yesterday we were laying on the sandy shores of Lake Michigan, however now it’s time to ditch the shorts for pumpkin spice lattes, football and cooler temperatures. Fall can be a glorious time of year, but it also is a time, especially in the Midwest, where the weather can bounce back and forth daily—sometimes hourly. With that brings in a multitude of pesky germs and an array of pollenated confusion. For allergy sufferers, fall can be a particularly terrible time of year, thanks to varying events of the season.

The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) cites four major fall allergy plights that can plague sufferers with sneezes, runny noses, irritated throats and more. The organization’s top four include: hay fever, lingering warm weather, pesky leaves and school allergens. The college also gives tips on what you can do to combat allergens before they wear you down.

1. Hey now, Hay Fever

Hay Fever, according to the organization, has nothing to do with hay. It’s simply another term for late summer allergies. Ragweed, a common cause, pollenates around mid-August and can be a problem until a freeze. Try prescription medications or allergy shots to control hay fever, if you’re allergic.

2. Weather that changing weather

As previously mentioned, fall can be a time where the weather quite doesn’t know what to do. With that comes allergic rhinitis symptoms, which affect up to 60 million Americans. If humidity is high or weather is dry and windy, mold can come in and make your allergies worse. MyNasalAllergyJournal.org has a great free journal to keep track of your symptoms to help take control.

3. Leave (me alone!)

Raking leaves can be fun or a chore, depending on how you look at it. But, piles of leaves on the ground are breeding places for pollen and mold. ACAAI recommends wearing a NIOSH rated N95mask when raking leaves as to not stir up allergen-related villains.

4. Allergies at School

Finally, we have back to school time, where kids from a variety of home lives are coming together in one place. Chalk dust, pets, food allergies and more can trigger all sorts of allergy-related events. It’s important to talk to you children about symptoms they may be having and what to do in times of a possible crisis. ACAAI says that it’s important that kids who may have allergies and asthma should see an allergist, who will develop a treatment plan. And of course, parents should fill teachers and school nurses in on the case.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) notes that allergies are on the rise. They currently affect 30 percent of adults and 40 percent of children in the United States alone. While avoidance of allergens is an obvious way to prohibit an attack or a miserable day, sometimes that’s nearly impossible. good treatments also include medication options, complimentary health care, and immunotherapy.

Natural Ways to Treat Fall Allergies

You can  get through the season by making sure you allergy treatment plan includes  complimentary health care with these easy-to-follow natural options. You begin to enjoy fall by making sure your allergy treatment plan includes the following:

1. Limited exposure. Wear a mask when doing yard work, steer clear of windy days, and make sure to keep your windows shut when inside.

2. Shower at night and change your clothes to remove allergens that may be clinging to you.

3. Reduce moisture at home to prevent mold and mildew.

4. The best way to fight mother nature may actually be found through a natural approach. You can fight allergies with all-natural treatments which can help you avoid any troubling side effects from medications like drowsiness, immune system suppression, or over-reliance on medicine.

Natural treatments like acupuncture can be used with antihistamines, or can replace them all together. Acupuncture is also known to help strengthen the body which may prevent initial reactions to allergens.

Aligned Modern Health’s Dr. Lamya Kamel suggests a proactive plan of treatment about 4-6 weeks in advance of your anticipated allergy season. This can help boost your immune system before the symptoms strike. Learn more about our top-rated acupuncture team by visiting us, here to learn more or schedule a free consultation.

   
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