by Dr. Gil Rodriguez
For some, autumn is not just pumpkin spice and everything nice. A large number of people experience that annoying runny or stuffy nose, those itchy eyes, and sometimes even worse, the shortness of breath and wheezy chest. Though spring allergies are common, fall is also known for bringing on its symptoms of allergic discomfort. Autumn allergies are a result of certain types of pollen and molds that are more prevalent in the later months of the summer. These allergens stay in the air and in damp places as we move further into the fall months. The amount of these allergens can increase or decrease, depending on temperature and humidity. As we continue with a very warm fall, the levels of pollen ragweed and mold are lingering for longer periods of time.
While over the counter anti-histamines are easily available, most are unaware of practical and natural ways of combating allergy symptoms in the spring or fall. Here are a few tips for helping to reduce your exposure to these allergens:
- Leave your shoes at the door
- Wear a mask when raking leaves or doing yard work
- Take a shower after you’ve been outside for an extended period of time
- Keep your car windows up
- Change your linens frequently
- Consume more healthy fats
There are therapies that we administer in our office that also help to reduce allergy symptoms naturally. By helping with to improve circulation to the lymph nodes of the head and neck, and with gentle techniques to very mildly and comfortably change pressure in sinuses, we are able to greatly aid patients who suffer from fall allergies. This allows these patients to either avoid or reduce the amount of allergy medication they consume. Other nutritional recommendations can also be made to anyone who suffers from these symptoms.
As mentioned above, increasing your intake foods high in omega-3‘s can greatly reduce your reaction to pollen and ragweed. Foods high in these healthy fats include fish, nuts, and healthy oil’s such as olive oil and flax seed oil. If you have any questions about natural ways of reducing allergy symptoms during the fall, or if you were interested in learning more about the techniques that we use in the office, please feel free to contact us at any time at 845-634-8877.
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