Fall Allergies – How to Fight Back When Autumn Wants to Take You Down

How to Prevent Fall Allergy Symptoms - Photo by Muffet

Those who suffer from seasonal allergies often find that Autumn's brilliant hues usher in an overload of annoying allergy symptoms. The weather begins to cool and you've finally gotten into the Fall rhythm and then...ZAP! Call it hay fever, allergic rhinitis, fall allergies, or whatever you like – few people would ask for this vicious visitor as the weather begins to cool.

Autumn can pack a big allergy punch. Symptoms sometimes lead to infections like sinusitis or increased symptoms of chronic lung conditions such as asthma or COPD. This often translates to increased fatigue and stress with loss of sleep, missed work and/or school hours, and missed opportunities to enjoy one of nature's most beautiful seasons.

Examples of allergic symptoms may include:

• sneezing
• coughing
• stuffy nose
• itchy eyes
• watery eyes
• dark circles under the eyes

Recognizing symptoms one has experienced in the past can help allergy sufferers begin to see patterns. Keeping a record of symptoms and when they appear may be quite useful. This information may help to predict times when allergy symptoms are most likely to appear in the future – the body has a way of remembering those triggers as it tries to defend itself any time one's body is exposed to those substances again.

What Causes Fall Allergies - Photo by Albert Bridge

The most common Fall allergens are:

• pollen (often from trees and weeds like ragweed)
• mold (colder states tend to peak in the Fall while warmer states usually peak in the summer)

The National Allergy Bureau provides mold and pollen counts from certified stations across America. They offer a personalized email alert account for those who wish to sign up for the service. They also have an app for an iPhone, iPad, Android, or Blackberry. This data can take some of the guesswork out of the equation since allergen counts depend on changing weather patterns rather than a predictable date on a calendar.

An allergist/immunologist can work with someone who suffers from allergies to develop a customized plan that might include allergy testing, immunotherapy (allergy shots), prescription or over-the-counter allergy medications, and specific, personalized suggestions for environmental controls that are likely to be most effective based on his/her assessment and past allergy history.

How to Avoid Fall Allergies - Photo of Allergy Testing by Wolfgang Ihloff

Preventing allergy symptoms tends to be more effective than attempting to control symptoms once they begin. Check with your doctor to see if any of these preventive strategies without medications might be good options for you:

• Avoid or limit going outside during peak allergy season – dry, windy days tend to have high pollen counts.
• Wear a mask when participating in outdoor activities such as raking leaves or mowing the grass.
• Bathe, wash your hair, and change clothes when coming inside after spending time outside – if that's not possible, you might consider wearing an extra layer of garments and a hat that can be easily removed and wash your hands, arms, and face when coming indoors.
• Dry clothes and bedding inside the house rather than hanging on a clothes line outdoors.
• Keep doors and windows to the house closed – many people enjoy the fresh air, but someone with allergies may discover that the fresh air indoors seems to be on a mission to search and destroy his/her ability to breathe.
• Clean vents and change filters before turning on the furnace for the first time.
• A humidifier and/or air purifier may help some people who suffer from allergies.
• Some people find cleaning the sinuses daily with a neti pot or saline nasal spray to be very helpful.
• Control or eliminate additional allergens and irritants, such as indoor smoke, dust, mold, and pet dander.

A doctor might recommend starting allergy medications or changing dosages before the allergy season starts and continuing on a regular basis until pollen and/or mold counts are down. Those who receive allergy shots may wish to see if more frequent dosages would be helpful during peak seasons.

If allergy symptoms worsen or persist despite decreased pollen and mold counts, a secondary infection may have developed or a chronic condition may be complicating issues. People who have allergies may develop new allergies at any time. Work or school environmental conditions may also trigger symptoms. Common irritants like smoke and perfumes may worsen symptoms. People with persistent symptoms may also wish to explore the possibility of additional allergies such as food, dust mites, medications, animal dander, latex, insect bites, and/or cockroaches.

Tips for Dealing with Fall Allergies - Photo by Douglas Muth

Those who suffer from Fall allergies may feel like they need to hibernate in a huge hamster ball during Autumn, but that option might prove to be a bit cumbersome. Instead of being down for the count as Autumn approaches, utilizing preventive measures may help you stay up and about and enjoying the wondrous beauty of the season.

Related Articles

• How to Talk With Your Doctor – Tips for Effective Communication
• Does Sleep Play a Role in Weight Gain and Weight Control?
• Can a Gluten Free Diet Improve Balance and Coordination Problems?

Visit the Fit Tips 4 Life site map to find additional articles about health and fitness.

References

• Fall Allergies accessed on WebMD.com on 9/26/2013.
• National Allergy Bureau accessed on the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology web site on 9/26/2013.
• The Ten Most Common Allergy Triggers in the United States accessed on TestCountry.org on 9/26/2013.

How to Save Money on a Gluten-free Diet

Supermarket Photo with Fresh Fruits from Wikimedia Commons

Those who know me personally tend to associate me with a special diet. All of my children have multiple food sensitivities and allergies and I learned through many trials and quite a few errors how to live a gluten-free lifestyle.

Going gluten-free (GF) is easier than it was years ago, but it is still challenging. Some stores now offer GF sections with some tasty items. However, some GF foods are devoid of anything that even remotely resembles good food in my opinion. We live in a rural area, and scraps are usually gone within a few hours if I chuck them out in the back yard. If a gluten-free item that no one living here will eat lies in my back yard for over a week, well....let's just say I won't be wasting my money on that one again!

Those on a tight budget are especially challenged when going gluten-free because it seems that for each item that a product is "free" of, you might as well add a dollar or two to the price. Paying high prices for something that everyone likes is hard enough, but paying the money only to discover that no one wants more than one bite can really take a hunk out of the budget. Yet making sacrifices to provide healthy meals that the whole family can enjoy is a goal worth developing.

Here are some tips to help stretch the special grocery budget:

Going Gluten-free at School - Photo by Tradewinds

Utilize available services through the schools

If your child's doctor has determined that your child requires a special diet, get it in writing. Find out what forms are required by the school in order to make special accommodations. You might discover that your child's school may provide soy milk in place of regular milk or make other substitutions if the child has special dietary needs.

Consider making a 504 plan so that school personnel are aware of special dietary needs and re-evaluate the plan as needed. Being proactive helps. For example, I have a place where we store special snacks for my children in case someone comes in with a surprise party for a class. I also request that teachers include a note in parent newsletters asking that parents provide at least three day's notice before bringing in foods/drinks because someone in the class has food allergies. This will help avoid those last minute dashes to the store to buy specialty ingredients at full price and will give you enough time to prepare something similar to what the other children are eating.

Compare Prices on Gluten-free Items Before Purchasing - Photo by Muffet

Comparison shop

Comparison shopping is often harder if you are looking for specialty products, but more mainstream grocery stores are starting to carry allergy-friendly foods that used to only be available in specialty grocery stores. Contact local stores to determine if they carry desired specialty items. Some small local stores may be willing to special order products for you, saving you time and gasoline.

Some stores will provide prices online and may offer lowest price guarantees when compared to other advertised prices for the same product. If you are shopping online, make sure to include shipping and handling and other added costs to ensure you are getting the best deal.

Talk with various managers at the store and ask about the best time of day and best day of the week to find the best deals on foods that the family can eat. Buying in bulk will often save money. Some stores may offer a discount if you order a case of a product. This can work well if the product can be stored for future use. If you know others in the area that are also going gluten-free, you might consider purchasing in bulk and then splitting the cost and products accordingly.

Check sell by and expiration dates carefully. The oldest items tend to be rotated to the front, but don't assume that reaching toward the back will get you the freshest product.

Give Grocers Feedback About Gluten-Free Items - photo from Wikimedia Commons

Give feedback

Give positive feedback about products that work for your family. Stores tend to appreciate your loyalty and they realize that word of mouth tends to bring in or repel future customers.

Write the manufacturer and give positive feedback about foods or drinks that are working well for your family. Some of those manufacturers may in turn send coupons, free samples, or other freebies or discounts.

Complete store surveys or provide other feedback to grocers. If stores in your area do not carry products that you would like to purchase, consider offering your personal wish list with UPC numbers, specific brands, and any other information that would be helpful if they decide to consider ordering the product. Occasionally, I have been pleasantly surprised to see a new product appear that was on my wish list. It doesn't hurt to ask. If the store begins to carry the item, purchase it regularly and pass the word to others.

Be a change agent and give feedback to lawmakers regarding labeling of foods and drinks. Although listing the biggest allergens is a great start, those with celiac disease or people who cannot tolerate foods with gluten often must invest quite a bit of time researching whether or not a product is gluten-free. Companies that have gone the extra mile to carefully label their products concerning gluten and restaurants that provide gluten-free menu items deserve some positive feedback. I hope more companies will follow their lead!

Investing in Your Health - Photo by Sigurdas

Invest in your overall health

Choosing plenty of healthy foods like fresh fruits and vegetables might seem to be a high expense, but the long-term benefits of a healthy diet can result in fewer healthcare-related bills for years down the road. If you look at the cost of heart disease, obesity, and diabetes, you might begin to frame a healthy diet as an investment in your future quality of life.

Sometimes smaller quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables may be the wiser choice, particularly if those items have a short window of time before beginning to rot. Those who purchase produce in larger quantities might want to experiment with various ways to preserve these foods without adding gluten. Some folks with backyard gardens might offer extra produce for free or for a very low price, particularly if they know that others would be interested in the items.

Save Money on Gluten-free Foods - Photo by Cornischong

Going Gluten-free Without Going Broke

After the initial shock of trying to discover how to go gluten-free, many people are dismayed to realize just how expensive specialty foods can be. Although you may have to make sacrifices in other areas of your budget to allow for added specialty food expenses, these tips are just a few ways that you can make grocery shopping a little less painful. Perhaps added competition in the future may force prices lower for some products.

I wish you the best as you search for creative budgeting strategies! Find more of Katrena's articles at the Fit Tips 4 Life site map.