SNEEZING

It’s not painful or socially unacceptable. It’s not even annoying – if you do it occasionally. But when you ‘achoos’ are coming on cue, you know there’s too much sneezing going on.

Sneezing is your body’s way of cleaning out the nasal passages and discharging irritating particles like dust or pollen. But when you have a cold or allergies, non-stop sneezing can make your nasal passages sore and irritated. Some people even get nosebleeds from non-stop sneezing. To give your nose a break, here’s what doctors recommend.

Neutralize the problem with nettle. This herbal remedy has been shown to ease inflammation in the nasal passages and help reduce congestion that can lead to sneezing. Some people make nettle teas, but an easier solution is to take nettle supplements, available at health food stores. Following the directions on the label, you can take them whenever your nose starts getting a little twitchy.

Pour a glass of orange juice. Along with other citrus fruits and a variety of fruits and vegetables, orange juice is very rich in vitamin C, which may help relive sneezing by reducing the amount of histamine your body releases.

Put more vegetables on the menu. Fruits and many vegetables are rich sources of bioflavonoids. These are natural chemicals, which, like vitamin C, can curtail the body’s production of sneeze-causing histamine.

Sneeze-proof your home. Your best natural remedy against sneezing is to scrub your house clean of allergens. Doctors recommend vacuuming, mopping, and dusting as often as possible, which will help eliminate the dust that causes sneezing. It’s also a good idea to scour bathrooms and basements, which often harbor large amounts of sneeze-causing molds. You may want to wash rugs, pillows, and stuffed animals once a week to wash away allergy-causing particles before they cause problems.

Clean your mattresses and bedding. Evidence has shown that microscopic skin flakes, called dander, often cause sneezing and other allergy symptoms. The best way to get rid of these particles is to wash your sheets and pillow cases once a week. Many people find that covering the mattress with a plastic cover and wiping it down once a week will also help stop sneezing.

Give your cat a bath. Millions of people are allergic to cats – and, less often, to dogs. Studies have shown that washing your pet once a week can dramatically decrease the amount of sneeze-causing allergens that get into the air – and, of course, into your nose. At the very least you may want to keep your pets out of the bedroom. Spending even just eight hours a day away from their allergy-causing particles may help you sneeze less often the rest of the time.

Take an antihistamine. These over-the-counter medicines are very effective at blocking your body’s production of histamine. You don’t want to take them all the time, but if your sneezing seems to be seasonal – as it often is in people with allergies – taking antihistamines during flare-ups will give you some much-needed relief.