Usually people complain about seasonal allergies in spring. It has been reported that 16.9 million Americans visited doctors for allergy treatments in 2007. Although spring is the time when nature wakes up and rejoices, many people feel miserable because the excessive amount of pollen turns on their allergy triggers.

Seasonal allergy symptoms are runny nose, congestion, rash, itchy and watery eyes, sneezing and coughing. All of these are very close to what a person would feel having cold or flu, this is why some people try treating allergies with cold medicines. However, if a person studies closer the symptoms of seasonal allergies and cold/flu are somewhat different. Cold is usually accompanied with fever, pain and sore throat, but allergy does not give all of these. It usually lasts longer than the disease and gives a feeling of itchiness in nose, eyes and throat.

There are several things a person could do to fight seasonal allergy symptoms:

• First of all cover your eyes with sunglasses to protect them from pollen, dust, and other allergy triggers. Remember that swollen eyes are the first symptoms of seasonal allergies.
• Wash hands thoroughly. Pollen and dust get on exposed areas easily and they can travel from hands to nose or eyes if you rub them. Try to remember washing or using sanitizers every time you come inside.
• Do not hang wet clothes outside. If you are one of the people who do not use dryers, think of some alternative to clotheslines in spring. Wet clothes attract more pollen than dry things, so hang your clothes indoors at an allergy season or use the dryer for this short time.
• Take frequent showers. If a person stays outside for quite a long period of time, allergy triggers stick to clothes, hair and skin. Taking shower and changing clothes to clean ones helps to reduce allergy symptoms because the allergens will be washed away. Hot water is preferable than cold, because it opens the sinuses allowing to breathe easier.
• Use natural remedies. There are a lot of anti-allergy medications, but they are usually expensive. Search on the Internet or read in books about natural ways to reduce the symptoms of seasonal allergies. There are some really good thoughts: flushing nose with saltwater, eating food high in Omega-3 fatty acids, adding strong spices like horseradish or chili peppers to meals, and drinking a lot of warm tea with such soothing natural “medications” like honey and apple cider vinegar.