An estimated 36-million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies
ESCANABA -- In both the fall and the spring, many of us deal with those dreaded symptoms of itchy, watery eyes, shortness of breath, and congestion, just to name a few.
But there are a number of ways you can deal with those allergies.
As the weeds multiply and mold grows from things freezing on the ground, you could start to see symptoms of seasonal allergies, like rashes and wheezing.
Seasonal allergies aren't something that can be cured, but they can be treated, even at home.
Medical professionals advise starting with over-the-counter antihistamines.
"If it seems to be a persistent thing where every fall you seem to always be getting a cold or what you think is a sinus infection, it may be time to see a doctor or physician's assistant and see if there are other options for you," says physician's assistant Aimee Whitmer.
Stronger antihistamines have to be prescribed, as do certain nasal sprays.
The treatment for most seasonal allergies tends to be the same, but there are at-home options you can try.
"A saline nasal spray is probably the best thing that you can do at home, and online you can get sort of a formulation of how much salt to put into some boiling water, but whether it's in a rinse bottle or the Neti pot, which is a popular option, but our nose is a filter and that helps rinse out any of the allergens that our noses may be filtering," Whitmer adds.
TV6 Facebook fan Shanon Ottaway posted on our page: "Be careful with home remedies and their safety, as well as their effectiveness."
If you're treating your own seasonal allergies, it's important you don't use any decongestants long term, especially if you're known to have high-blood pressure.
Environmental allergies can't really be prevented, since so much of them are what we breathe every day. All you can do is treat the symptoms and try to enjoy the season the best you can.