One sneeze, two sneeze, three sneeze and before you know it, you’re cooped up in your home watching the world from a distance because your allergies are too much to handle. A vicious cycle that so many people experience when the weather starts to get colder. When the seasons change our bodies have to adjust to the new environment and some of us have a much harder time than others. About 3.1 million people across Australia suffer from seasonal allergies and hay fever each year.  

If you’re one of these people your symptoms might include: 

• Sneezing 
• Watery eyes 
• Runny nose 
• Itchy throat, nose, eyes or ears 
• Loss of smell 
• Headache 
• Earache 
• Pain around forehead 

What can you be doing right now to prevent it? How can you combat the symptoms when they arrive? 

Here is the ultimate guide to surviving hay fever and seasonal allergies.  

Keep Your Home Clean 

You’d be surprised how much dust can settle on the surfaces of your home after just 24 hours. Typically, hay fever gets triggered when we go outside, so it’s important to make your home your safe haven. If you absolutely hate cleaning but want to combat your hay fever, here are the three main things you should be doing: 

• Cleaning and changing your sheets once a week (pillowcases especially!) 
• Vacuuming carpeted areas 
• Cleaning dust on top of fans and higher surfaces 

These are the three main things that can set off your sneezing fits. When settled dust get disturbed your nose is hit with thousands of particles floating in the air, making it almost impossible not to sneeze. When you stay on top of these high-risk hay fever areas, you’re less likely to set off your allergies before you enter into the world. There's nothing worse than already having a red nose and watering eyes before you even get to leave the house. 

Anti-inflammatory Diet 

You might not think your diet has anything to do with your sneezing and itchy eyes. However, the gut is the key to an overall healthy body. When we experience inflammation in the stomach our entire body feels the effects. When you start fuelling your body with anti-inflammatory foods, you might surprise yourself with how much of a difference it makes. If your current diet consists of junk food, greasy burgers, little to no vegetables and not enough eater, it’s time to switch things up a bit. Without completely overwhelming you with a new diet, here are a couple of things you could incorporate into your regime today. 

• Omega 3-fatty acids (fish, avocados, chia seeds) 
• Berries 
• Bananas 
• Leafy greens 

Grab your blender and make a simple smoothie packed with vitamin C and these anti-inflammatory foods. Getting in your fruits and vegetables each day can make a huge difference when it comes to your bodies response to seasonal changes. 

Antihistamines 

You’ve probably taken an antihistamine before, but do you actually know what it's doing in your body? The reason these handy little tablets provide so much relief is because it’s stopping your body's natural response to what it perceives as a threat. When you experience hay fever, the substance histamine is released throughout your system, which makes the body swell and tries to expel and fight off the nasties entering your body. However, as many of us know, the body can be pretty dramatic. Non-stop sneezing, itchy eyes and a runny nose are just a few of the symptoms you can experience when your body is in fighting mode.  

There are quite a few options on the market, but you should choose the ones that will best suit your lifestyle. Many antihistamines have a drowsy effect, making it difficult to concentrate and focus on your daily tasks. For those of you that are wanting to be out and about, you can buy non-drowsy antihistamines as well. If you’re looking for a natural alternative, try using Quercetin by Herbs of Gold. This specially formulated product has been designed to help reduce inflammation and ease the symptoms of allergies.  

Shower Often 

We’re all about saving water, but when you’re suffering from hay fever, you’ll do absolutely anything to make it go away. Showering can help not only ease your symptoms but prevent them from worsening throughout the day. Steamy water can help unblock your sinuses and cleaning your body will remove any particles that would set you off if you let them stay there. When you’re out and about, you accumulate a plethora of dust, bacteria's and particles that will stay with you until you get home.  

Make it a habit to remove your jackets when you enter your home and go for a shower as soon as you can. This will prevent any of these outside particles from making their way to your bed, your lounge room and your living areas. 

Incorporate Supplements and Vitamins 

You might be eating super healthy and doing everything you can to prevent seasonal allergies but you’re still getting knocked down every time the weather changes. Incorporating vitamins and supplements will not only benefit your overall health but can have a significant impact on cultivating a healthy immune response in the body. Taking a few minutes in the morning to give your body what it needs to get through the day will be worth it. To help prevent and manage hay fever many people are using the following vitamins: 

• Allergy by Fusion Health 
• Hay Fever and Sinus Ease by Herbs of Gold 
• Resilience by ATP Science 

Don’t put up with hay fever any longer. You don’t need to keep missing out on social events you’ve been looking forward to all week. Use these tips to have your body work with you, not against you!