I say this all in jest, but there is certainly some truth behind it. Nature is trying to kill me. I mean it! At the beginning of the week I'm feeling completely normal and going about my business. Then, just a couple of days ago I notice that my car is covered in pollen and it hits me... It hits me hard. I wake up the next morning with the works - runny nose, chills and a swollen throat. A coincidence? I think not. It is that time of year where we're really starting to feel the first few days of summer, and everyone I know is feeling the effects of their allergies.

Sinus infections are certainly no walk in the park. Even worse, you can feel like you have a sinus infection but be told by your doctor that it technically is not an "infection," and they can't give you an anti-biotic. I've been told that I'm just having trouble with my allergies and I've got to ride it out. Take all of those symptoms mentioned above and add on 87 degree days like we had yesterday, and I'm just a walking ball of miserable. If you empathize with me, then I encourage you to hang in there. This won't have the best of us! We did a little research on what can be done to help those with allergies. Here are a few steps from WebMD (and our own personal experience) that are recommended to ease you past this somewhat uncomfortable change of seasons.

1) TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES - When you come into the house, leave your shoes at the door. You track pollen in, every time you walk around outside and then walk through your home. 

2) TAKE A SHOWER BEFORE BED - Pollen can collect in your hair throughout the day as you're walking around outside. Especially if you spend a long period outdoors, so it's a good idea to get it all rinsed out. This way, it doesn't settle in your pillow.

3) USE A DEHUMIDIFIER - It's recommended to keep the humidity in your home at less than 60%. Certain molds can form and irritate your allergies if it is too humid indoors. 

4) GET AN APP - My sister in law found an app that actually reports the pollen count for the day. If you look up this statistic every morning, you can plan your day around whether or not you should be staying inside or not. 

5) NASAL RINSE - I've often used nasal rinses with a saline solution. If you use them too often, it can cause ear infections. For the most part, once every few days can be quite useful. The rinse helps to clean out your sinus cavities and rinse out any pollen or dirt that may have been inhaled during the day.

6) SEE YOUR DOCTOR - Everyone is allergic to different things. A friend of mine is allergic to grass pollen and I'm pretty sure that I'm mostly allergic to tree pollen. What's the difference you say? Major. Pollen types vary and if you know which one affects you strongest, you can gage your outdoor activity accordingly, and get help in treating it specifically.

Allergies affect us most anywhere we go. Fortunately on the east coast, the pollen season, as I call it, does not last as long as it does in my home state of Florida. So for me, it's been quite a relief! That's just one of the many reasons I love living in Delaware. The beach doesn't hurt either... You simply have the best of both worlds. If you're in the market to buy or sell a home in Delaware, then you've stumbled across the best blog you could ever read! I'm apart of the Don Williams Group, which is made up of agents that are passionate about helping you accomplish your real estate goals. For more information on Delaware realty, call us today at 302-545-6859 and Don, Liz, Tripp, Geoff, Marian or Sherri will be happy to help you set up a personalized home buying or selling plan. In the mean time, grab your Alegra and tissues and good luck everyone!

-Shenae Andrus