A lot of people, including pALS, can suffer from hay fever in spring. For people with ALS, however, it’s more than an inconvenience. Especially if you already have problems coughing up mucus and/or problems swallowing, hay fever can really make things difficult for you.
Symptoms of hay fever include:
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Watery eyes
- Frequent sneezing
- Itchy eyes, nose, mouth palate or throat
- Swollen, blue colour skin under the eyes (allergic blue eye)
- Coughing
- Facial pressure or pain
Hay fever can also cause the following:
- Sleeplessness
- Tiredness
- Irritability
ALS worsens hay fever symptoms. Allergies promote the formation of mucus and due to your reduced lung capacity; you probably can’t cough deeply enough anymore to clear your throat and lungs. Moreover, some allergy medications can sometimes cause drowsiness. This can cause complications with breathing while lying down. Still, there are a whole bunch of things you can do to feel better:
- The more you can reduce your exposure to pollen and house dust which cause hay fever, the better you will feel. Keep all windows closed, place a special air purifier with built-in filter on your heating and/or cooling system. Minimize indoor dust by thoroughly vacuuming with a vacuum cleaner with an allergy prevention filter. Regular vacuum cleaners let all small particles with allergens pass through unhindered.
- Sufficient hydration helps keep mucus thin. This will make them easier to cough up. Nasal sprays can help with a stuffy nose.
- Discuss with your doctor or neurologist which medications are best to take.
- Ask your pharmacist or doctor to check if the hay fever medications do not interact with the medications you are already taking.
- Allergy medications may be an option. Your doctor may refer you to an allergist if necessary.
- If you use a BiPap, make sure you get humidified air. The extra humidity will help prevent your nose, mouth, and throat from drying out, making it a bit easier for you to deal with the extra mucus production caused by the allergy.
- Talk to your neurologist about the benefits and the possibility of using a cough machine.
In any case, your enthusiasm for outdoor activities does not have to decrease because of hay fever. The next step is up to you: make plans, invite your friends and go!