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Q. Looking for some allergy season survival tips, what does Dr. Oz have to say?
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Every time you eat or drink,
you are either fighting disease or feeding it.
~ Heather Morgan MS, NLC
Spring is the time of year when many people complain about allergy season and according to the National Center for Heath Statistics about 16.9 million of us reported we had seasonal allergy symptoms in 2007, since then 12.2 million doctor's office visits related to allergy symptoms in 2010 and 17.6 million of us were diagnosed with hay fever in 2013.
Did you see this in the news headlines?
"2014 Worst Cities for Spring Allergies" makes for sensational headlines however the prevalence of people with allergies in these cities may tell us more about the healthy lifestyle habits of the people living in these cities than it tells us about the allergens.
National Institutes of Health reported in the article Prevalence of allergies the same, regardless of where you live allergies from early childhood to old age, scientists from the National Institutes of Health reported that allergy prevalence is the same across different regions of the United States. So if you are thinking of moving to improve your allergy symptoms, you might want to rethink the move. The root cause of your allergy reaction rests in your immune system and you take that with you.
Would you be surprised to hear allergies are an immune system dysfunction?
According to Evidenced Based News for Optimal Health, scientifically speaking the root cause of allergies symptoms is an imbalance between T-Helper cells which are types of white blood cells that play an important role in the immune system. When there are hormonal or inflammatory imbalances due to stress, environmental toxins and poor food choices resulting in an imbalance in this system causing the immune system to spiral out of control and become more reactive to the environment creating a histamine response. This histamine response causes those annoying allergy symptoms your are experiencing like including watery eyes, runny and congested noses, puffy and inflamed sinuses, violent sneezing fits, severe headaches, coughing and difficulty breathing, Seasonal allergies are also known as hay fever and allergic rhinitis which may cause: : - Congestion
- Stuffy, Itchy, Runny Nose
- Itchy, Watery or Swollen Eyes (Conjunctivitis)
- Cough
- Body Aches
- Sneezing
- Sore Throat
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Sleep Disturbances
- Brain Fog (unclear thinking)
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A. "Relief from pollen misery could be as simple as opening your refrigerator (and your mouth)."
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Dr. Oz Favorite medication-free allergy remedies -
Video on TODAY.com
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 Mayo Clinic recommends reduce your exposure:
To reduce your exposure to the things that trigger your allergy signs and symptoms (allergens):
- Stay indoors on dry, windy days - the best time to go outside is after a good rain, which helps clear pollen from the air.
- Delegate lawn mowing, weed pulling and other gardening chores that stir up allergens.
- Remove clothes you've worn outside; you may also want to shower to rinse pollen from your skin and hair.
- Don't hang laundry outside - pollen can stick to sheets and towels.
- Wear a dust mask if you do outside chores.
To read more Mayo Clinic recommendations click here
1. Know your triggers such as ragweed and molds.
2. Learn do-it-yourself measures.
3. Get treatment to reduce symptoms.
4. Beware of foods that trigger symptoms such as bananas, cucumbers, melons, zucchini, sunflower seeds, and chamomile tea. To read more click here
and the best place to start looking for natural remedies is your refrigerator.
Here are the 7 foods to stock up on this season:
2. Apples - prevents immune cells from releasing histamines.
3. Wheat bran - improved lung function.
4. Hot tea - clears nasal passages,
5. Salmon - anti-inflammatory properties & immune system boosting,
6. Spicy foods - releases congestion.
7. Vitamin D - vitamin D-fortified orange juice or fatty fish (such as salmon, tuna or mackerel), which are naturally rich in vitamin D.
 DON'TDon't over do it with over the counter sedating antihistamines there are many and may not be worth the risks. Remember not only do sedating antihistamines cause drowsiness, they cause constipation, urinary retention and dry mouth. What's more, in many states in this country, a person can be charged with a DUI (driving under the influence).
DO
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Why we experience seasonal allergies a medical explanation.
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Best and Worst Foods for Allergies
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