Allergies Hitting Nashville Area Hard – How you can prevent the worst symptoms

by Sinclaire Sparkman

Watery eyes and runny noses are common this time of year as our vehicles, porch furniture and nasal passages are coated with a fine layer of yellow pollen, but there are some simple things you can do to lessen the annoyance of allergies, and they don’t involve moving to another city.

One in five Americans suffer from allergies each year, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).  This year, Nashville has been ranked 25th out of the United States’ 100 most challenging cities to live in with allergies, reports the AAFA. Nashville is continuously ranked near the top of these lists, according to Dr. Robert Valet, an allergy specialist at Vanderbilt Medical Center, and it’s for a couple of reasons.

“We have both northern and southern plants, such as grasses, which contribute greatly to a high pollen count,” said Valet. “There are also issues with air quality, both indoor and outdoor.”

Air quality is typically worse in more urban areas due to large volumes of traffic and industrial sites. Nashville air quality isn’t the worst out there, but it also isn’t the best either.

Allergic reactions are caused by a foreign protein substance, or allergen, being introduced to the human immune system. The body reacts by creating a specific antibody that releases chemicals that cause symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, itchiness, among other things. Pollen is a very common allergen and it effects some people more than others.

A common question is how to tell if you’re having an allergy attack or if you are coming down with a cold. Most of the time both allergies and a cold will come with a runny nose, but a cold will leave yellow discharge, whereas with allergies the runny noes will run clear. Also, a cold usually comes with aches, pains and possibly a fever. Allergies just come with the discomfort of blocked nasal passages and an immediate onset of symptoms after exposure.

For the prevention of bad allergy symptoms, Dr. Valet recommends washing clothes and hair after being outdoors for extended periods of time to prevent pollen from invading the home, and getting a good dose of Vitamin C from fruits, such as oranges, or in pill form because Vitamin C is a good, all-natural antihistamine.

If you still aren’t happy with your ability to control allergy symptoms, it’s probably time to talk to an allergist. In a typical allergist visit, they will consult with you about symptoms, prevention, and can do a skin test to see exactly which allergies are getting you down.

“One of the nice things an allergist can offer is the allergy shot, which is an all natural method of controlling allergy symptoms,” said Valet.

There are also a number of household items that have been approved by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America as suitable products for those suffering from allergies. For a complete list of these items visit http://www.asthmaandallergyfriendly.com/certified-products.html.