These Strategies Can Help Ease Your Misery
For millions of people who have seasonal allergies, springtime means sneezing, a runny nose, congestion, and weeks of misery.
These tips can help you cope:
Reduce your exposure to pollen
- Stay indoors on dry, windy days
- Wear a pollen mask outdoors
- Shower after you have been outside
Keep indoor air clean
- Close windows
- Use air conditioning
- Install high-efficiency filters
Use over-the-counter remedies
- Try antihistamines, decongestants or nasal sprays
- Use a saline nasal rinse (either spray or irrigation style)
If nothing seems to help, see a doctor (an allergist or immunologist specializes in treating allergies). Allergy tests can identify exactly what you’re allergic to and determine the best treatment. Allergy shots (immunotherapy) may help make you less sensitive to pollen and provide long-term relief. Your Health Plan covers doctor visits and medically necessary allergen testing and immunotherapy.
Tip: Get discounts on allergy control products, like mattress protectors, air filters, saline solutions and much more, at regence.com: click Resources, Discounts, then Allergy Relief.
IF IT’S ASTHMA, REGENCE CAN HELP
About half of asthma cases are “allergic asthma,” triggered by spring pollen. Sufferers experience all the symptoms of seasonal allergies plus an asthma attack, which makes it difficult to breathe.
If you have asthma, Regence’s Condition Manager program can help you can learn to minimize the symptoms by avoiding triggers and recognizing warning signs. The program is free, voluntary, confidential and available to participants who have asthma (or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary artery disease, diabetes or heart failure).
Through this program, health care professionals provide one-on-one assistance to help you improve your overall health, giving you extra support in addition to your doctor’s treatment plan. To learn more, call 866-543-5765.
Choose Healthy 