Doctors, news organizations and health groups are announcing that this could be one of the worst – and longest – fall allergy seasons yet. Take steps to avoid triggers and manage your allergies.

While spring is often considered prime allergy season, for many people – especially ragweed allergy sufferers – fall may actually be the toughest time to be outside.

This fall, thanks to a particularly wet summer, we are being subject to a double allergy whammy. Ragweed pollen levels are surging and excess standing water has increased the amount of mold, a common year-round allergen, in the air.

This overload has led to an increase in allergy patients this year, many of whom have never experienced fall allergies before. The pollen and mold together may reach a “tipping point” for the immune system, leading to an allergic response.

To top it all off, the allergy season is expected to last a few weeks longer than usual this year, according to research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. For many years, the allergy seasons have been getting longer as we see warmer falls and later frosts (and the same holds true for spring, with the season starting up to a month earlier than it used to).

Allergies are the result of the immune system mistakenly seeing pollen, mold, dust mites, etc. as foreign invaders and releasing antibodies, which normally go after bacteria, viruses, and other illness-causing organisms. The antibodies attack the allergens, which leads to the release of chemicals called histamines into the blood. Histamines trigger the runny nose, itchy eyes, and other symptoms.

The number of Americans with allergies is two to five times higher now than it was about 30 years ago, according to surveys from the National Institutes of Health. Among the believed causes are the disruption of the balance of bacteria in our gut caused by increased use of antibiotics and a modern diet of processed and preserved foods. Other possible causes include an increase in toxins and pollution, along with, ironically, fewer bacteria, parasites and illnesses, which have led our less-tested immune systems to overreact to harmless allergens.

The good news is that there are steps you can take to help reduce your exposure to allergens, manage allergy symptoms, and balance your immune system.

To avoid ragweed/pollen, keep outdoor activities to a minimum between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. when pollen is usually released; stay indoors when pollen counts are high and on windy days; and keep windows closed to prevent pollen from drifting into your home.

Mold thrives in damp areas, both indoors and outdoors, and its spores can easily get airborne. The piles of damp leaves that line yards and streets in the fall are breeding grounds for mold, as are damp basements and bathrooms at home. Promptly fixing leaky roofs, windows, and pipes; ventilate shower, laundry and cooking areas; and use bleach in the bathroom at least once a week to kill the mold.

Dust Mites are microscopic organisms that eat skin flakes that naturally shed off our bodies. While they are more abundant in humid summer months, they can get stirred into the air the first time you turn on your furnace in the fall. Wash bedding in hot water weekly; “wet” dust before you vacuum, use washable rugs and window coverings; keep pets out of sleeping areas; and use a HEPA air purifier.

Some steps can actually protect against multiple allergens, such as:
• Leaving your shoes outside after spending time outdoors, to avoid tracking pollen and mold inside your home.
• Use a dehumidifier to keep the air indoors dry, which helps keeps mold, mites and pollen under control indoors.

But you can’t completely eliminate exposure to allergens, so when the inevitable symptoms do kick in, you need to manage your symptoms. Fortunately, God has created a variety of herbs and nutrients that naturally help regulate the symptom-producing histamines levels in the body.
Histamet Support, now back by popular demand for a limited time, contains nine of those potent natural compounds, including quercitin, tinospora, nettle leaf, perilla seed, vitamin C, and N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine.

In addition, you can support your immune system so that it is in the best possible position to handle an encounter with allergens. The key is in immune system balance – one that is robust without being overactive. Research is showing more and more that daily vitamins, minerals and other nutritional supplements are tremendously beneficial in supporting the immune system.

Immunity Support contains the 23 immune-balancing nutrients, herbs extracts and compounds recommended to achieve optimal immune function, in a convenient formula that is safe enough to take every day.

Both products have been designed to be taken with Basic Nutrient Support®, which supplies the full spectrum of nutritional support needed to maintain a basis of good health.

So this fall, take a complete, integrated approach to allergies, by supporting your immune system, taking steps to lessen allergen exposure, and naturally addressing allergy symptoms when they do strike.