Allergy season has arrived and trees, flowers and plants areshedding pollen everywhere. It’s likely someone in your familysuffers from an allergy, and has the sneezing, runny nose, cough orsore throat that go with springtime allergies.

Treating allergy symptoms to feel better doesn’t have to take alot of work. Here are some tips to keeping your familyallergy-symptom-free, and feeling and looking good.

* Get good rest. Sleep is important when your body is fightingoff irritants, and if you’ve spent the entire day sneezing orcoughing, your body can be tired from those stresses. If youstruggle to shut your brain off at night so you can fall asleepquickly, consider taking a warm bath or shower, reading a book andlistening to calming music that won’t get stuck in your head. Agood night’s sleep will help prevent dark under-eye circles thatoften plague people with allergies.

* Rid your house of pollen. There’s a good chance you’re just asallergic to your house as you are to the trees and flowers outside.That’s because pollen collects in carpeting, fabrics and your airducts. If you have carpeting, clean the floors using a HEPA-filtervacuum on a frequent basis. You might also consider investing indust mite-proof bedding. Another pollen-hiding place is your airducts, and the National Air DuctCleaners Association recommends checking your ducts with aflashlight or camera to determine if dust is coating the walls ofyour ducts. If so, it’s time to get them cleaned.

* Soothe your allergy symptoms. If you’re reacting to the higherpollen levels with a cough and sore throat, supplement yourprescription or over-the-counter medications with HALLS, which starts workingwithin 10 seconds to soothe allergy-related coughs and sorethroats. In addition to cough drops, stock up ontissues, soap, hand sanitizer and lotion so you can target allthose symptoms that have you feeling ill. Keep these items handy -at home and while you’re out to help prevent your allergies fromdragging you down physically.

* Stay inside. When the pollen count reports are high, considerstaying inside on those days so you don’t immerse yourself inallergens. Also keep the windows of your house closed to preventthe wind from carrying pollens inside.

* Zap the allergens in the air. Even with good cleaning andkeeping your windows closed, pollens and other allergens can stillget into your home. Adding an air filtration system to your airconditioner or as a stand alone unit can help keep the air youbreathe free of pollens. If you have a stand alone unit, place itin the bedroom of your family member suffering from allergies.

Allergies can be a drag, but they can be less annoying when yousuccessfully treat the symptoms. With these tips, get out and enjoythe warmer weather, and if you add a smile on your face, no onewill be the wiser.