Got the Summertime Sniffles? Try These 9 Allergy Remedies.

Most people associate the spring and fall months with allergies, but summertime can bring its fair share of allergy issues. If you’re faced with an uncomfortable cold or stubborn rash at this time of year, you might be wondering what causes summer allergies. Most of the time, summer allergies are caused by humidity, insect bites, or irritants like pollen and mold. These allergens may cause a stuffy nose, coughing, or even skin irritation.

At MD Now Urgent Care, our friendly team members are committed to helping you keep summertime allergies at bay. Here are some useful remedies we recommend that you try this summer allergy season.

1. Clear Your Sinuses with Nasal Lavage

While springtime is typically known for higher pollen counts, summer often has its own fair share of irritants. Many allergy sufferers swear by neti pots or saline solutions to keep their nasal passages clear. Nasal lavage can help remove pollen and other irritating micro particles from the nose. When not cleared away, these irritants can enter the bloodstream, causing summer allergies coughing or other symptoms.

2. Load Up on Leafy Greens

A trip to the produce aisle of the grocery store may help keep you allergy-free. Allergy experts recommend loading up on antioxidant-rich tomatoes, green beans, and eggplant. Cucumber and zucchini are also excellent produce picks—as a bonus, they can serve as a cool snack during the hot summer months. Fruits and veggies that are high in vitamins C and E can also alleviate swelling in the airways, so reach for an orange the next time you’re feeling clogged.

3. Limit Dairy Consumption

For many people, cutting down on the amount of dairy they consume can have a positive effect on their summer allergy symptoms. Beta-casein, which is found in most commercial dairy products, can sometimes exacerbate allergies. Dairy also produces a lot of mucous, which can lead to a runny nose or stuffy sinuses.

4. Get Moving

In addition to making positive dietary decisions, going for a jog may also improve your late-summer allergies. Exercise improves blood flow throughout the body, which can improve symptoms like watery eyes, clogged ears, or fatigue. However, keep your allergies in mind when choosing an exercise location—visiting an indoor gym may be a better option than hiking down an outdoor trail if you’re triggered by pollen.

5. Control Unwanted Pests

Summertime’s warm temperatures typically invite more unwanted guests, including ants and cockroaches. Fire ant bites can cause particularly severe allergic reactions, including painful swelling and itching around the infected site. Cockroaches are another allergy-triggering pest, as their saliva and shedding body parts can act similarly to dust mites. To reduce summer allergies itchy skin and other symptoms caused by insects, consult with a pest control specialist.

6. Dust and De-clutter Your Home

When it comes to triggering common summer allergies, dust mites come out on top. Found inside most homes, dust mites can cause sneezing, watery eyes, and can even cause an asthma attack. Stuffed animals, curtains, electronics, and many other items are ideal areas for dust to collect, so consider de-cluttering your home by donating those items that are no longer needed. It’s also important to remove dust from surfaces regularly using a damp or treated cloth. Using a dry rag or feather duster can sometimes cause the particles to spread, making the dust problem worse.

7. Create an Allergy-Safe Sleep Environment

Keeping your bedroom dust- and pollen-free can help you enjoy a restful, regenerating night’s sleep. After the day is over, remove your clothing and shoes before you enter the bedroom, which can be collected in a laundry hamper outside the area. This helps keep the bedroom clear of pet dander, dust mites, pollen, or other outside irritants. Clean your sheets regularly using hot water and a “clear” laundry detergent to remove any allergens. Furniture, carpet, and curtains should be vacuumed regularly to avoid the buildup of dust mites. And don’t forget your mattress—most should be replaced every five to ten years.

8. Handle the Humidity

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that indoor humidity stay around 30–50 percent. High humidity can cause bacteria, dust mites, mold, and mildew to breed, which can aggravate respiratory issues or cause summer skin allergies.

9. Wash Your Hands

It goes without saying—clean hands are less likely to spread allergy-causing germs. Washing your hands can greatly reduce the spread of respiratory illness during all parts of the year, not just allergy season. Use a five-step process when soaping up your hands: Wet, lather, scrub, rinse, and dry.

With these summer allergies remedies, you’ll be able to breathe easier throughout the humid summer months. Keep in mind, however, that if your symptoms are severe, you may require professional medical care. When skin or respiratory allergies are affecting your daily activities, visit an MD Now urgent care center for treatment and relief.

MD Now Is Your Source for the Highest-Quality Care

Discover the caring, convenient, and cost-efficient treatment that can always be found at MD Now. All of our locations operate on a walk-in, no-appointment basis with hours to conveniently suit your schedule. With 31 locations throughout Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties, quality care is always within your reach. For the Florida locations nearest you, visit https://www.mymdnow.com/locations.

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MD Now^® Urgent Care Walk-In Medical Centers is the leading provider of fast and affordable urgent care to adults and children in Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties. Our state-of-the-art, walk-in medical centers are open seven days a week to deliver an affordable and convenient alternative to long emergency room wait times and the limited hours of family physicians. No appointment is necessary and major insurance plans are accepted. In addition to providing a comprehensive range of urgent care services to treat a variety of illnesses and injuries, our multiple locations offer digital x-rays, EKG, lab testing, physicals, immunizations, vaccines, occupational medicine, travel medicine and selected primary care services. Find the medical care you need with the convenience you want at MD Now. Online: www.MDNow.com.