How Minneapolis Residents Can Nip Seasonal Allergies In The Bud

Although it still may feel like summer in Minneapolis, fall is approaching quickly. And while it’s often thought of as an inviting season with cozy weather and vibrant foliage, fall is also the time of year where many begin to experience seasonal allergies.

Hay fever and allergic rhinitis — fancy terms for your typical seasonal allergy symptoms — occur when trees, weeds or grasses release pollen into the air. While the pollen count in Minneapolis currently ranges from moderate to high depending on the day, seasonal allergies — specifically caused by ragweed pollen, one of the highest pollen pollutants — may begin to increase with onset of fall.

Fortunately, there are ways to combat those pesky seasonal allergies whether you’re taking steps to prevent symptoms or you’re treating them. Here are some helpful tips you can follow to nip those seasonal allergies in the bud once and for all.

Common Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ”Allergic rhinitis occurs when allergens like pollen enter your body and your immune system mistakenly identifies them as a threat. If you have allergic rhinitis, your body then responds to the allergen by releasing chemicals that can cause symptoms in the nose.”

Breathing in pollen can trigger symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose and congestion. In some cases, pollen exposure can also result in “allergic conjunctivitis” causing red, watery or itchy eyes in some people. Pollen can also cause asthma attacks in those who have asthma. If you have asthma, you’ll want to take extra precautions to protect yourself against pollen, including taking your asthma medications prescribed by your doctor.

Tips For Managing Your Seasonal Allergies

Although seasonal allergies are not completely avoidable, there are some ways to minimize the risk of them. Here are some precautions you should take to protect yourself:

Check The Weather

Checking pollen forecasts on local news and online sources can indicate when pollen levels are high in Minneapolis and help you prepare to spend less time outdoors. Wind also plays a role in the spread of pollen, so be sure to check wind speeds as well. If high pollen counts are forecast and you’re prone to seasonal allergies, your doctor may advise you to take an over-the-counter allergy medication as a preventative measure before your symptoms start.

Shower After Being Outdoors

If you spend time outdoors, you should shower immediately and change your clothes in order to remove any pollen you may have picked up from outside. It’s also important that you don’t touch your eyes when you are outside, and be sure to wash your hands as soon as you go inside.

Minimize Indoor Pollen

Cleaning and vacuuming your home often can help minimize pollen in your home, as well as making sure windows and doors are shut during pollen season. You can also use high-efficiency filters in your home’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system in order to filter allergens. Adding a dehumidifier may also help keep your home pollen-free.

How To Treat Seasonal Allergies

If you’re struggling with allergy symptoms, help might be as close as your nearest pharmacy. Allergies are common — they affect as many as 60 million people per year in the United States. That’s why many effective allergy medications are now available without a prescription. (Note: You should still talk to your doctor before using any over-the-counter medications.)

There are two groups of fast-acting allergy medications that may be an option for you — decongestants and antihistamines.

Antihistamines can prevent allergy symptoms (if taken before you come into contact with the trigger) and help improve the symptoms (if taken afterward). Some examples include:

• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
• Loratidine (Claritin)
• Cetirizine (Zyrtec)
• Fexofenadine (Allegra)

Decongestants help ease the symptoms of a stuffy nose by reducing the swelling of blood vessels in your nose. They can be taken alone (pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), for example) or in combination with antihistamines (loratadine/pseudoephedrine (Claritin-D, for example).
In addition to over-the-counter medications, there are also many prescription medications for allergies. If your OTC medication does not work, you should talk to your doctor. It’s possible that a prescription medication would be better for you.

The Alternative To Overpaying For Seasonal Allergy Prescriptions

According to the CDC, “Medical costs linked with pollen exceed $3 billion every year, with nearly half of those costs being linked to prescription medicine.” If your insurance doesn’t cover your prescription allergy medication or you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, GoodRx, the leading resource in health care savings, is here to help.

GoodRx offers coupons for commonly prescribed allergy medications such as mometasone, azelastine and prednisone. Obtaining your GoodRx coupon is simple. Visit the GoodRx website or download the free GoodRx app and add in your prescription details and ZIP code, and GoodRx immediately starts sourcing drug coupons and comparing medication prices at pharmacies in Minneapolis so you can select the option that works best for you.

See how much you can save with GoodRx: Download the GoodRx app or use its drug search tool on GoodRx.com to find the lowest price for your prescriptions.