Dear Friends,
Spring is a time for renewal and new beginnings. It is a beautiful time of year but if you suffer from spring allergies you can be dreading this wonderful season like the plague.
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As a kid, I used to be allergic to ragweed (a summertime weed) until I received weeks of shots and never had to worry again. For many years, I didn’t stress with allergies; no runny nose, no itchy eyes, none of the troublesome allergy symptoms that can make you dread spring. But this didn’t last forever.
About two years ago, around the start of spring, I found myself with a runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, constant sneezing, basically, the works. I found it would worsen when I would drive in grassy areas with my window down which really solidified that my allergies not only came back, but they came with vengeance. Never before did I have to experience such symptoms, even growing up with an allergy to ragweed it was never that bad—I would only develop a rash when I came into contact with the plant. This time around, I felt like I couldn’t even function because I could barely open my eyes and if I did, they would be incredibly watery!
From my slew of symptoms, I went to get tested for allergies once again and, lo and behold, anything green basically came up. Pollen, grass, and even ragweed came back, and those were the culprits to my misery.
The following year I went to see a naturopath for some other health concerns, but I did mention to her about my allergies. She gave me some homeopathic remedy that she said would help. I took it for a few weeks and, I’m going to be honest here, stopped taking because I would just simply forget. Needless to say, I didn’t follow her recommendations. Instead I found myself popping antihistamines when the symptoms developed. That gave me temporary relief and I still managed to be able to enjoy the outdoors and warmer weather.
So far this year, I haven’t been stricken with such symptoms, but I also live in Canada where one day it’s 12 ℃ and the following day it drops to about four degrees. It’s not full-on spring yet, so it’s a tad too early for pollination. Am I worried for this year’s allergy season? Not really, but I may very well keep a box of antihistamines in my purse just to be safe.
My allergies so far have been easily manageable, but I know other people suffer from allergies far worse. I have a friend who can barely finish a sentence because she’s constantly sneezing in between words! If that sounds like you, I would suggest you see an allergy specialist and work with them in order to put you on a personalized treatment plan.
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Although allergies can be annoying they shouldn’t hold you back from enjoying any season. The Bel Marra Health website has some great resources to help you better understand allergies along with tips to help you get through allergy season—why not give some of our articles a read?
Until next time,
Emily Lunardo
Emily Lunardo studied medical sociology at York University with a strong focus on the social determinants of health and mental illness. She is a registered Zumba instructor, as well as a Canfit Pro trainer, who teaches fitness classes on a weekly basis. Emily practices healthy habits in her own life as well as helps others with their own personal health goals. Emily joined Bel Marra Health as a health writer in 2013.
