| If you have bad allergies, then you are not alone. | | | | had symptoms. I never touched the Albuterol inhaler |
| Each year, more people make trips to their doctors | | | | because I had heard so many of my teammates |
| or to see allergists so that they can figure out how | | | | complain about the side effects making them feel |
| to combat their allergies. For many people, allergy | | | | dizzy, nauseous or like they were having a heart |
| problems do not become a problem until they are | | | | attack. Instead, I stuck with the Advair inhaler, and it |
| young adults in their teenage years or if they move | | | | wasn't long before I saw improvements to my |
| from one geographic location to another. | | | | breathing. |
| For instance, when I was getting ready to move | | | | While prescribed medication may help fix the problem |
| from New York to North Carolina to go to college, I | | | | for some of us, it is not always necessary. If you |
| was only in school for a short time before I started | | | | want to cut down on the problems associated with |
| to have a lot of difficulty breathing. This problem was | | | | allergies, keep your windows and doors |
| exacerbated by the fact that I was a part of the | | | | closed-especially if you know that it is specific time |
| college's cross country and track team. It was mid | | | | of year when environmental allergens are more |
| August, and I was outside running with the team | | | | prevalent. Additionally, invest in a humidifier as well as |
| when I started to feel as if I was suffocating. | | | | HEPA filter. HEPA filters are great for cleaning the air |
| Panicked, I spoke to my coaches about how I was | | | | that you breathe in your home- especially if you own |
| feeling, and they immediately set up an appointment | | | | a pet like a cat or a dog. The humidifier is excellent |
| for me with the doctor. After speaking with a | | | | for putting a little moisture in the air to help you |
| doctor, I found out that it was common for people | | | | breathe a little easier- great for those fall and winter |
| who have just moved to another state to | | | | months, when your nasal passages are the most |
| experience allergic reactions to the things in their | | | | susceptible to dry, arid air. |
| environment. For me, it turned out to be a | | | | Make sure that you do laundry regularly and that |
| combination of things- dust, oak pollen and ragweed. | | | | when you wash your sheets that you are doing so in |
| So, what was the solution to making me feel better, | | | | hot water at least once a week. If you do exercise |
| or at least well enough for me to continue training | | | | outside and there is a lot of pollen in the air, do your |
| with my teammates? The doctor prescribed me an | | | | best to cover up. I usually wear a bandanna or a hat |
| Albuterol inhaler which I was instructed to take | | | | as well as year-round sunblock. For some people, the |
| anytime I started to feel bad or was having an | | | | reason to cover up is significant since some people's |
| asthmatic-like attack. I was also prescribed another | | | | skin can actually have a reaction to things that are in |
| type of inhaler called Advair, which I was supposed | | | | the air. |
| to take twice daily regardless of whether or not I | | | | |