If you are like me, then you dread the coming of Spring because of a terrible set of allergies. With the beginning of Spring comes allergy season and there are some major allergy sufferers out there that have difficulty dealing with them. When the pollen count reaches new astronomical proportions, my throat ends up feeling like it is going to close up due to congestion. If you are like me, then the tips I am about to share with you will be extremely important for you so you may go through your day.
First, do not think you are above allergy medication. Allergy medication is the only thing that can get you through a whole day with really bad allergies, and without it, you are going to have a very difficult blooming season. There are many over the counter medications for allergies that work, including Benadryl, Zyrtec, Allegra, and Claritin. These can all be picked up at your local drug store or supermarket in the medicine isle.
I have found, as an allergy sufferer, that Claritin has worked the least for me, while Benadryl worked quicker than any of them, but did not last quite as long. Another little known fact about Benadryl is that the medication shares a key ingredient with Tylenol PM. Therefore, Benadryl has a side effect that puts you to sleep when taken. Benadryl should only be taken before bedtime. If you suffer more during the day, I have found Allegra works the best and lasts 24 hours. Zyrtec, though also works 24 hours, was
not found to be quite as effective as Allegra, but still did work well.I also recommend that you should switch up your allergy medication halfway through the season. The reason behind it is because all of these over the counter allergy medications are all antihistamines, and your body will end up building up a tolerance for a medicine after a period of time. Therefore, if you take Allegra for a couple of months, switch to Zyrtec for the next two months to switch it up.
I have also found that decongestants do not work as well as antihistamines. Decongrestants such as Zyrtec-D, Sudafed, and Allegra-D do not seem to have the same effect. Decongestants are known for improving nasal inflammation and helping with mucus buildup, but does not seem to do as good of a job.
One final tip for you all is that you should try your best not to think about it and go through normal activity. You may say I am crazy or think that it is too hard, but trust me. If you are not thinking about the allergies and congestion, then it does not hurt as much or annoy as much. Just keep going through your normal routine. Remember to drink a lot of water and get a lot of rest and remember, do not let Spring allergies take the better of you.