Top tips to cope with hay fever.

Nice weather and sunshine sounds like a recipe for – disaster? That can be the case if you have seasonal allergies. During the warm months in Northeast Ohio, trees, grasses and weeds bloom and flourish. When plant pollen is inhaled, histamine is released in the body triggering allergic rhinitis – or hay fever. Itchy eyes, a scratchy throat or a runny nose are all signs of hay fever season. “The body views pollen as an invader. Antibodies and histamines are released by the immune system as a form of defense,” explains Ronald Purcell, MD, an allergy and immunology specialist at Cleveland Clinic Willoughby Hills Family Health Center. Dr. Purcell offers these top three tips to curb allergy symptoms: 1. Rinse and repeat. Irrigate your nasal passages with saline solution to rinse out allergens and relieve congestion. 2. Keep your windows closed. “Avoid fans if possible; they tend to stir up dust. Set your car air conditioning to recirculate air when you’re driving alone,” advises Dr. Purcell. 3. Take a shower. Shower after outdoor activities to wash off pollen that may have accumulated. If these simple tips don’t seem to control hay fever symptoms, an allergy test may be beneficial. An allergist can guide you to the proper over-the-counter medication or prescribe something to clear up symptoms. Additionally, some allergy sufferers may develop asthma. “No one wants to stay inside when the weather is nice. An allergist can help craft a medical plan to keep your allergies under control during hay fever season and throughout the year,” says Dr. Purcell.

Anne Rex, DO, FAOASM Cleveland Clinic Willoughby Hills Family Health Center and Mentor Medical Office Building