Surprising Allergy Triggers May Make Your Spring Sniffles Worse

BOULDER, Colo. -- Spring is in the air, and along with it, tree, flower, and weed pollens that can throw an allergy sufferer's immune system a curve ball. But the April issue of Natural Solutions: Vibrant Health, Balanced Living magazine uncovers five other surprising allergy triggers that make already uncomfortable symptoms worse than they need to be.

"When your immune system is weak, it sees seasonal allergens as foreign bodies and launches an inflammatory response, releasing chemicals such as histamine, to attack them," says Daniel Monti, MD, director of the Jefferson-Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. Histamines cause the sneezing, wheezing, and coughing associated with allergies.

The article, 'Allergy Test,' describes in detail the following immune system stressors and outlines how you can alter your lifestyle choices to reduce symptoms--without taking medications that cause drowsiness, hyperactivity, and dehydration.

1. Diet. Eliminating dairy, wheat, saturated fats, and processed and refined food can reduce the inflammation in the body that triggers the immune system. Look for anti-inflammatory foods such as blueberries and other fruits and vegetables.

2. Stress. Unrelenting stress releases hormones in the body that trigger the immune system, and it depletes nutrients. Manage your stress levels by getting enough sleep, exercising, and doing yoga.

3. Your home. Your house contains a variety of allergens -- from mold and pet dander to cleaning products and scented candles -- that can easily overload a sensitive immune system. Clean the house frequently and invest in a HEPA air filter.

4. Antibiotics. Taking antibiotics can throw the immune system out of balance by destroying the good bacteria along with the bad. Taking probiotics daily, especially lactobacillus, replenishes beneficial bacteria and may reduce grass pollen allergies.

5. The great outdoors. Use a nasal rinse to get rid of irritants, and go outside late in the day or after it rains when pollen counts are lower.