Allergies putting a damper on your Labor Day? Get relief with these tips

 Labor Day weekend signals the end of summer, and here in the North East that includes cooler temperatures, brightly-colored leaves, and fall hay fever. Experts estimate that about 1 in 10 Americans get hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis. Ragweed is very common this time of year, it often grows along roadsides, vacant lots, river banks, and abandoned fields, and with it's disarming yellow or green flowers, you might be tempted to sniff it. But plant lovers beware. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 75 percent of Americans are allergic to it. There are 17 species of ragweed and it is most common in Eastern states and the Midwest, and while it lives only one season—the frost kills it off—it can produce up to 1 billion pollen grains.

Is it a cold or hay fever?

Your coughing, wheezing, and sniffling may seem like a sure sign of the common cold, but don't be too quick to grab the cold and cough medicine. Hay fever symptoms are very similar to cold symptoms, so you should know the differences. Colds are often marked by fever and body aches, but if your runny nose is accompanied by watery, red, itchy eyes and an itchy or tickly throat, you're probably suffering from allergies.

8 tips to less sneezing

When it comes to soothing seasonal allergy symptoms, avoiding the things that trigger and exacerbate them is just as important as treating them with antihistamines and nasal sprays. Here are some tips to help you fight pollen and hopefully, sneeze and itch a little less:

Knowing the risk factors can help you figure out what's triggering your allergies. Some allergies run in families, while others happen because of dust mites or your beloved pet.  

Pollen can keep you up at night, so keep pollen far away from where you sleep. Don't lay clothing or items you've worn outdoors on or near your bed. And this also means avoiding hanging sheets and clothes outside to dry—at least until the allergy season ends. 

Pollen transferred from your body and hair to your pillow can make for a miserable night. So, try to shower or bathe at the end of the day. 

Wash your hands. This tried-and-true advice for helping to prevent the spread of colds and the flu is good advice for lessening allergy symptoms, too.  

Protect your eyes, even when they're itchy and it feels like the only thing you can do for relief is rub them. But touching your eyes can introduce more pollen, dirt and germs. Dab them with a clean tissue or rinse them with water instead. Avoid smoking and second-hand smoke.  

Take a vacation away from ragweed. If you live in Eastern states or the Midwest, it may be a good time for you to take some time off and get some relief by going west. Rocky Mountains, anyone?

Keep your windows closed at night to keep the pollen count down. If possible, use air conditioning, which cleans, cools and dries the air.  

Track the pollen count for your area. The news media often reports the count, especially when pollen is high. You also can call the National Allergy Bureau at (800)-9-POLLEN or check their web site for pollen counts for your region. You can also sign-up for regional pollen-level emails at www.pollen.com. Just type in your zipcode and email address, and 2-daily alerts show up in your in-box. And try to stay indoors when the pollen or mold counts are reported to be high.

If you can't beat it, treat it

When prevention isn't enough, don't let your symptoms take over your life. Make sure to get some relief. Start with over-the-counter antihistamines such as loratadine (Claritin) or cetirizine (Zyrtec), or home treatments like a nasal saline rinse. If these remedies don't work, make an appointment with your doctor or an allergist. An allergist will give you an allergy test, likely a skin-prick test, and may suggest prescription antihistamines, nasal sprays, or in more severe cases, allergy shots.

—Ginger Skinner

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