As a 61-year-old American freelance writer living as an expat in South America I fight the same things many Americans fight. Taxes, crummy politicians living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
I can’t do anything about the taxes, but I resist Trump every chance I get. Hay fever is another problem. As I write this it’s almost spring in the Southern Hemisphere. The calendar screams “FOOTBALL” yet the weather whispers “baseball.”
Knowing I fight hay fever and the sneezing that comes with it, a friend sent me this article. After doing some research online I think I may pick up a box when Alejandra and I head to America in a week. I’ll let you know how it works.
How to Ditch the Sneezing this Hay Fever Season
Hay fever, or seasonal allergic rhinitis, is an allergic reaction to pollen and other airborne allergens. Around 1 in 5 New Zealanders suffer from hay fever and approximately half of sufferers have symptoms for more than four months of the year. Airborne allergies expert Max Wiseberg offers some useful tips to reduce the symptoms, as the dreaded sneezing season starts.
Hay fever, or seasonal allergic rhinitis, is an allergic reaction to pollen and other airborne allergens. Around 1 in 5 Americans suffer from hay fever and approximately half of sufferers have symptoms for more than four months of the year. Airborne allergies expert Max Wiseberg offers some useful tips to reduce the symptoms, as the dreaded sneezing season starts.
Grass, trees and right now ragweed, release millions of grains of pollen into the air.
The body’s reaction to pollen is to produce histamines. Normal amounts of histamines in the brain are good – they keep us alert, attentive and awake. But, when there are too many in the body, they produce the various symptoms common to hay fever sufferers including sneezing, a runny nose, nasal congestion, itchy eyes, watery eyes, streaming eyes, swollen eyes, itchy nose and throat.
Hay fever symptoms may also include an overall achy feeling, or build up of pressure in the entire face area. The sinus area is often the most painful. Constant nose rubbing and blowing can also leave sufferers with skin irritation and sensitivity. All of this can lead to tiredness, fatigue, exhaustion. Hay fever can also affect how you sleep and cause sleep disturbance and difficulty getting to sleep. These symptoms can in turn zap your energy levels leaving you feeling low and sluggish. Chronic hay fever sufferers may experience more severe or prolonged symptoms.
Hay fever expert Max Wiseberg, who is a lifelong hay fever sufferer himself, has some useful tips to reduce hay fever symptoms. “Stopping the cause of hay fever – namely pollen – from getting into the body is one of the best ways of stopping or reducing the symptoms. There is no cure for hay fever, but stopping the pollen getting into the body is very effective – less pollen, less reaction.
- • When indoors, close windows to stop pollen getting through. •
- Use an air conditioner preferably with a HEPA (High Efficiency Particle Arresting) filter to capture the pollen and dust particles, cool and circulate the air. •
- When going outside, tie your hair up and wear a hat to prevent pollen particles being caught in your hair. •
- Wear wraparound sunglasses to prevent pollen particles coming in contact with your eyes. •
- Use HayMax. The organic, drug-free allergen barrier balm can be applied to the nostrils and bones of the eyes in the morning and throughout the day, to trap over a third of pollen particles before they enter the body where they can cause symptoms [1]. Less pollen, less reaction! •
- Dry clothes indoors rather than on a clothes line to prevent pollen particles being blown onto the clothes by the outside wind. •
- Stay hydrated and eat lots of fruit and vegetables to stay healthy and support your immune system. •
- Vacuum the house regularly especially beds and fabrics to remove pollen particles. •
- If you own a pet then ensure that it is well groomed and shampooed as much as possible to remove pet allergens and pollen particles. •
- And finally, shower at night before sleeping to remove pollen particles and pet hair from your hair and body.”
HayMax organic drug-free allergen barrier balms retail from $16.95 and are available online from www.haymax.us or ask at your local health store.
Jerry Nelson spends much of his time poking Trump’s meth-addled, uneducated fans with a pointy stick and is currently writing a book of muskrat recipes as well as a scrapbook of his favorite death threats. His life’s aspiration is to rule the world with an iron fist, or find that sock he’s been looking for. Feel free to email him at jandrewnelson2@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments — or join the million (seriously) or so who follow him on Twitter @Journey_America. Never far from his Marlboro’s and coffee, Jerry is always interested in discussing future writing opportunities.