“Bless you!” my kids holler over to me… TWENTY times per day.
It’s no secret: I have seasonal allergies. In fact, from March to October, I have a love-hate relationship with trees, grass and ragweed. (Okay, it’s mostly “hate” with ragweed.) And while sneeze-a-thons can definitely be a nuisance, it goes further than that for me; I frequently experience an itchy, runny nose, sneezing, and nasal congestion.
I’m not alone. Experts estimate that about 20 to 30 per cent of Canadians suffer from seasonal allergies – the immune system’s exaggerated response to an allergen. For me, “allergy season” starts in early spring and goes until the first frost of autumn. Translation: I spend about 3/4 of the year in hay fever hell.
(My husband, who is affected by indoor allergies that can be caused by pet dander, dust mites, etc. – actually suffers all year round. Yikes!) …