Hay Fever - How I Got My Stuffy Nose Problem Under Control

Sometime in the last 20 years, I developed someis worth it having the security of feeling 100%
form of Hay Fever which caused my nose to beconfident of a drug working rather then being
stuffed up around 7:00 PM and endedunsure about using the generic. You might feel
approximately 12 hours later each day. It mainlydifferently.
affected me indoors where I lived and got better3. Air Conditioning. I have my air condition on 24
or worse depending where I lived. I absolutelyhours a day 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, no
hated this and at first I was using nasal inhalersmatter how cold it is outside, as I need a
which alleviated the problem but wound up raisingconstant flow of air circulating. When air doesn't
my blood pressure and after a while stoppedcirculate or is stale, I feel awful. For whatever
working because I had developed a tolerance toreason, the colder the temperature is in my
them. Saline nasal sprays which apparently do notapartment, the better I breath. I do not set the
affect blood pressure, didn't work on myair condition to automatic, repeat I do not set the
stuffiness at all. I started panicking and at timesair conditioner to automatic and set it on a fixed
I'd go to sleep worrying that I'd stop breathingtemperature which I adjust usually in the morning
and die! I had no other symptoms, I really didn'tand mid-afternoon early evening. At one location I
seem to be that affected outdoors and thelived, I was comfortable at a fixed temperature
allergy and nose specialists I went to see, said Iof 68 degrees. At another location, I had to make
had some form of hay fever.it 59 degrees in mid-afternoon/early evening and
The worst thing is, as I've gotten older, this went62 degrees in the morning. The main thing is,
from a seasonal allergy to a year round allergy.keep lowering the air condition temperature if the
The one and only product that workedcurrent temperature doesn't work for you, no
immediately for me but I had to stop usingmatter how low its set for. I found when I had it
regularly was Claritin D because it affected myset on 59 degrees my body really didn't feel cold
blood pressure. I was using Claritin D, 24 hours aand on the occasions it did, I'd sleep with my
day, 7 days a week, it worked great, but as Ibathrobe on over my pajamas. Note, my
said, I had to stop because of what it was doingelectricity bill is fairly high because of my air
to my blood pressure. Regular Claritin had noconditioning use, but that is a price I'll gladly pay to
affect on my stuffiness at all. Through seeinghelp my breathing.
various doctors and trial and error, I've developed4. Air Purifiers. I use both Hoover Silent Air
a method for myself which controls my stuffinessIonizing Purifiers all through my house as well as
problem most of the time. What follows is whatHoneywell Quiet Hepa Air Filters, depending on the
works for me and you should use it as a roughroom and what's in it. The Silent Air Purifiers are
guide when dealing with your hay fever stuffinesssilent just as listed and the Quiet Hepa Air Purifier
problem and discuss things with your doctorare louder but you'll get used to them and they're
where applicable. I should note, that the occasionalmore powerful, This is basically trial and error on
times, when I'm still stuffed up and can't can'thow you use them. I generally use the Silent Air
control my stuffiness, I do use a 12 hour Claritinin smaller rooms and the Quiet Hepa Air Purifier in
D which provides me with instant relief but I onlythe bigger rooms and turn them on as needed.
resort to using Claritin D as a last resort.5. Hepa Vacuum Cleaners. I use a Hoover Bagless
This is the method I've developed after years forVacuum Cleaner. Please note, you might notice,
controlling my hay fever stuffiness. Pleaseespecially in the bedroom, that when you vacuum
remember what works for me may not workthat day, the air might not feel as good that night
for you.though it should be fine in the following day. When
1. Location, location, location. There is an excellentthat happens you might want to try sleeping in a
possibility that where you live triggers your hayroom that you didn't vacuum that day like a
fever the most. You could live 4 blocks away andsecond bedroom, or in the living room on a couch
your hay fever could decrease or increaseor sofa bed.
greatly. If you contemplate moving to another6. Bedding. I don't use feather pillows or any
location, I would somehow try to stay a fewbedding with feathers and use allergen bedding
days in that location if you can and see if there's(sheets, covers, etc.).
a noticeable affect. I'd also talk to other people in7. Food. I try not to eat anything after 7:00 PM
that location and check out if there is more orbecause it definitely increases my stuffiness. I also
less pollen and trees in that area.try not to drink soda after 7:00 PM.
2. Prescription drugs. I use Flonase in the evening8. I find sleeping on my left side makes my
and my breathing became night and day better.nostrils more open then sleeping on my right side.
Somehow of all the prescriptions for Nasal I've9. If I'm lying down and feel stuffed, I get up for
tried over the years, Flonase was the mosta few minutes which seems to help my breathing.
effective in relieving my nasal problems. I do notI hope my routine is helpful to you but the main
use the generic version of Flonase as I'm paranoidthing to know is that what works for me may
that it won't be as effective as the brand drugnot always work for you and to always consult
and I'll gladly pay the difference in price, To me, itwith a doctor on medical matters.