I’ve gotten into a new routine where I open my eyes when I hear my alarm and walk straight over to my tissue box. Thankfully, it hasn’t gotten so bad yet where I can’t sleep, but apparently as soon as I wake up, my allergies wake up too. Most days lately, I’ve sneezed within the first 30 seconds of my day. Nothing says good morning like a night-long built up sneeze that takes more energy than you can provide at 6 a.m.
So don’t quote me on this, but I’d say the pollen accumulation on NC State’s campus is higher than any snow or ice we’ve gotten this year. A stroll through the parking lots on campus will show just about every car covered in a thick layer of that yellow-green dust. Sometimes it’s so thick that the windshield becomes opaque. And don’t forget about all those bricks on campus. The cracks seem like a nice spring home for pollen to move into every year. Please, pollen, live somewhere else.
Take an extra 10 seconds to pack a few tissues before heading off to class. College doesn’t have those little boxes in every classroom with an endless supply of tissues. Which might be a good thing. I’ll take any tissue I can get, but let’s be honest, I’m pretty sure they were made out of sandpaper. Don’t be that student from Sniffle City whose life goal is to see how long they can go before someone gets annoyed. Trust me, everyone is already annoyed. We all do it sometimes but it’s distracting, it’s frustrating and it’s plain disgusting.
From excessive sneezing to itchy eyes and a sore throat, of course there’s medicine that’ll clear up your allergies. (The pharmacy in the Student Health Center can come in handy.) But if taking medicine every day doesn’t float your boat, there are some other options out there that can help keep the allergies away, according to ABC News.
You probably — at least I hope you probably — shower on a daily basis as it is. But strategically planning when you shower can help improve your allergy symptoms. It’s only a temporary solution, but taking a hot shower can ease up sinuses and clear up your nasal passages. Washing any pollen off your skin or from your hair can prevent it from spreading to things like your clothes and pillowcase. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, or even just a long walk back from class, rinsing off the pollen isn’t a bad idea.
Another option is to take a break from coffee and give tea a try. Green tea contains a compound that inhibits allergic reactions. Don’t drink too much chamomile, though, for it can cause reactions in people who are allergic to ragweed.
Eating honey can also help you resist the effects of pollen. Bees transfer the pollen from flowers to honey, so eating a little bit of honey every day can strengthen your immunity. As honey goes well with quite a few breakfast foods, adding a spoonful or two to your most important meal of the day could go a long way.
Simple changes in your daily routine might make your allergy season a little less uncomfortable before opting to pop the allergy pills. Don’t overuse medication if you don’t have to. It won’t help your immune system, and it most certainly won’t help your wallet.
The calendar says we are only a few weeks into spring, meaning there are most likely many sneezes in store for those with seasonal allergies. Just remember that you aren’t sneezing alone, and for all the times you did sneeze alone: bless you.
