If you are one of those 36 million Americans who suffer from seasonal allergy problems like a runny nose, itchy eyes and congestion, then this article is a must-read for you. Most probably, you are suffering from typical fall allergy symptoms. These signs may slow you down and stop you from leading a normal life.

While there are no spectacular treatments of allergy, you may consider some of these tips to control your illness.

Identify your allergy triggers:  Many seasonal allergies can be traced to two organisms- ragweed and molds. Ragweed is a stubborn weed and grows in several settings- along the highways, streets, in vacant plots and within the fields. Just one plant of ragweed can produce up to a billion pollen and these seeds can travel as much as 400 miles. Molds on the other hand, grow in heavy vegetation and prosper after rainy season. It is difficult to predict how bad your allergy can turn over a period. However, you can still figure out the severity of your seasonal allergy. For example, molds grow very rapidly during and after rains. So, if you are living in an area that witnesses flooding or heavy rains after summers, then you should brace yourself for mold induced allergy.

Protect yourself with the following DIY measures:  There are some common sense measures that you can adopt to keep the seasonal allergy symptoms at bay.

• Wear a mask while gardening or doing some work for your plants.

• Modify the inner air quality by bring home HEPA filter dehumidifiers. HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air filters and these remove the molds, pollen, cigarette smoke and other bad elements from the air. HEPA based filters also remove excess moisture from the air and remove molds. If you have an air conditioner, then you must clean its filters often.

• Before you travel, check the pollen count. Various meteorological reports of the country often give out pollen and mold counts to the US citizens. If you are planning to travel, then arm yourself with these reports to keep your allergy under control.

• Protect your eyes- If you want to stay away from pollen then wear eye-glasses. Many pollen affect eyes as well.

• Wash yourself- When we come back home after a hard day’s work, then we unwittingly bring back a lot of pollen as well. Take a refreshing bath and get off those pollen from your body.

• Plan your exercise- Exercising in the early mornings is beneficial for your seasonal allergy. There is a lesser pollen count at day break than in the noon time.

• Check the dog- If you have a dog, then wash/ clean it regularly because it may be carrying pollen. Dr. Pamela Georgeson, DO, and an allergist in Chesterfield Township, Michigan says that pets are a major source of pollen in the house. If your dog is also sleeping in your bed, then your allergy will most likely exacerbate.