An allergy occurs when your immune system overreacts to substances in the environment, such as the pollen of trees, grasses, weeds, or mold spores. Allergy symptoms, triggered by the release of histamine in the body, include itching, sneezing, hives, and wheezing. Seasonal allergic rhinitis or "hay fever," is common this time of the year because of the amount of pollen in the air. Common hay fever symptoms are sneezing, stuffiness, a runny nose and itchiness in your nose, the roof of your mouth, throat, eyes or ears. Fortunately, there are a number of self-care measures that can help with springtime allergies.

Reducing pollen exposure. For seasonal allergies caused by plants and trees, stay indoors when pollen counts are high. Information on current pollen levels can be obtained from the National Allergy Bureau website. During allergy season, the best time for outdoor activities is after a rain, which helps clear pollen from the air. Avoid outdoor activity in the mornings when pollen counts are the highest. To reduce exposure to outdoor pollen, keep windows shut and the air conditioner on. Don't mow lawns or rake leaves because it stirs up pollen and molds. Avoid hanging sheets or clothes outside to dry. If you work outside, wear a dust mask.

Keeping indoor air allergy-free. You won't be able to eliminate every allergen from your home, but with these measures you can make it a more comfortable place, especially during the peak of allergy season. Use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in the bedroom. Wood, tile or vinyl works best for floor surfaces since dust, mold, and pollen can be removed more thoroughly than with carpet. Use of mattress and pillow covers can decrease the exposure to dust mites, since many hay fever sufferers are also allergic to dust mites. Indoor pets should be bathed regularly and kept off of the bed. Remove clothes you've worn outside. Bathe and shampoo hair daily before going to bed to remove pollen from hair and skin.

Over-the-counter (OTC) Antihistamines. All antihistamines, whether OTC or prescription, work by blocking the release of histamine in the body. They are best used when taken prior to the development of symptoms, not after symptoms are present. OTC antihistamines include diphenhydramine (Benadryl), chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), loratadine (Claritin, Alavert) and cetirizine (Zyrtec). Of these, loratadine and cetriziine are much less likely to cause sedation.

Cromolyn sodium (NasalCrom) Nasal spray. Like antihistamines, this OTC nasal spray prevents the release of histamine and helps with nasal symptoms of hay fever. It is most effective when taken before symptoms start and may need to be used several times a day.

Nasal irrigation. Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of nasal irrigation in reducing symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Nasal irrigation can be performed with a neti pot, bulb syringe or squeeze bottle to flush out nasal passages with saline (salt) solution.

Decongestants. Decongestants, such a pseudoephedrine (e.g. Sudafed), helps with symptoms of nasal congestion but do not treat the underlying allergic reaction. Decongestants should not be taken long-term, because they may affect blood pressure or urination. Decongestant nasal sprays such as Afrin or Neosynephrine should not be used for more than 3 or 4 days at a time for allergies in order to avoid rebound nasal congestion.

Nutrition and Dietary Supplements. Quercetin, a plant pigment responsible for the colors found in fruits and vegetables has been found in the laboratory to block the release of histamine. Citrus fruits, apples, onions, parsley, grapes, and dark berries, such as blueberries are the primary dietary sources of quercetin. While evidence that quercetin is uniformly effective in preventing allergic symptoms in humans is lacking, some hay fever sufferers do derive benefit by taking quercetin supplements or increasing quercetin sources in the diet.

Herbal remedies and supplements. Butterbur (Petasites hybridus, 500 mg per day) - appears to have some effectiveness in preventing seasonal allergy symptoms. Two small studies demonstrated that an extract of butterbur was as effective as the antihistamines, Zyrtec or Allegra. As with medications, herbal products have side effects and can interact with other medications or supplements. Other herbal products that have shown promise in treating allergic symptoms include stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) and goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis).

When self-care measures fail. There are a number of treatments for managing seasonal allergy symptoms available by prescription or on doctor's recommendation. These include:

• Nasal steroids, fluticasone (Flonase), budesonide (Rhinocort), mometasone (Nasonex) and triamcinolone (Nasacort).
  
  
• Prescription antihistamines, fexofenadine (Allegra) and the nasal spray azelastine (Astelin),
  
  
• Leukotriene modifiers. Montelukast (Singulair) is a prescription tablet taken to block the action of leukotrienes - immune system chemicals that cause allergy symptoms such as excess mucus production.
  
  
• Allergen immunotherapy ("allergy shots"). Testing to determine specific allergens responsible for symptoms is necessary prior to undergoing desensitizing injections.

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