Pearls for Preventing the Plights of Pollen Season Part 2 by Wayne Emineth PA-C

Sinuses and Sneezing.

Two natural remedies that no one uses but are highly effective are nasal saline rinses and Vaseline in the nose. I do not like the plastic squeeze bottles of saline because they tend to suck bacteria from the nose back into the bottle. These bacteria are later squirted back into the nose. Better choices are Arm and Hammer nasal saline or SinoMarin. These come in a sterile spray can designed for application into the nose.

Vaseline (petrolatum ointment) placed in the nose acts as a barrier to pollen. The pollen sticks to the Vaseline and never gets a chance to irritate the nasal membranes. Vaseline should be applied in the nostril 2-4 times a day—a peppercorn size dab in each nostril is plenty.

Allegra (fexofenadine) Zyrtec (cetirizine) and Xyxal (levocetrizine) are excellent anti-histamines, the generics are cheap, effective and safe. If having some trouble sleeping Zyrtec and Xyxal are a better choices taken at night because it may cause some drowsiness. If this drowsiness is a problem then Allegra is a non-drowsy anti-histamine option. Claritin is great but studies have shown that Zyrtec, Allegra, and Xyxal are about 3 times more potent anti-histamines than Claritin.

These antihistamines not only help sinus allergy symptoms but they help reduce itching of the skin due to pollen and other allergens (dust, dander).

A medication that is underused is Mucinex (guaifenesin). The 12 hour extended release version without dextromethorphan is the best choice. Avoid dextromethorphan because it is for cough. Maximum strength 12 hour delayed release Mucinex twice a day thins the mucous in the nose allowing the pollen to be cleared out more easily. The immediate release guaifenesin tablets are OK but are cleared from the body faster and have to be taken 4-6 times a day. An interesting fact is that years ago a study showed that dark chocolate worked better than dextromethorphan did for reducing cough and dark chocolate had none of the negative side effects that dextromethorphan had.

Filter the pollen out of the air you breathe when you can.

Get high efficiency pleated allergen/pollen filters for your air conditioner/furnace.

In the spring it is too warm for the heater to run and too cool for the air conditioner to run, this means that the air in your house is not getting filtered. During pollen season or when having allergy symptoms turn on the fan for your AC/furnace when you get home at night. This will filter the air through the high efficiency pollen removing pleated filter that you put into your AC/furnace, turn it off when you leave for work to save energy. Stand alone HEPA filter machines are also a good to filter the air in the room where you spend the most time.

If these tips/tricks don’t do the job then come and see us!

Wayne Emineth sees patients in our office Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Visit our “Contact Us” page to book an appointment with Wayne.

Read Part 1