www.hendersonfireprotectiondistrict.com  all rights reserved. Website created March 2010 by big3design.com Health Page              Spring Allergies    Spring time is here and with it comes seasonal allergies. Wth the trees   blooming and the pollen in the air, if we have allergies, it is the time of snif- fling and sneezing or hay fever.    Our immune system thinks of the pollen as a foreign invader and releases antibodies. These are substances that normally attack, viruses, bacteria and other illness-causing organisms. The anibodies attack the allergens, which leads to the release of chemicals called histamines into the blood.This triggers our symptons of runny nose, itchy watery eyes and nose, sneezing, coughing and dark circles under our eyes.    You can hardly avoid pollen if you live in an area where plants grow but there are a few things to limit your exposure: 1.Try to stay indors when the pollen count is very high(pollen counts are   usually higher in the morning). 2. Keep your doors and windows closed. An air- purifier may also help. 3.Clean your air filters. Also, try to keep dust at a minimum. 4. Wash your hair after going outside. Pollen may collect there. 5. Vaccum twice a week. Wear a mask while doing this.     There are over the counter medications for allergies, but it is a good thing to check with your doctor if problems persist.                                                                                                                c