Spring is around the corner, it means warmer weather, flowers blooming, but also pollen, allergy, lots of sneezing, wheezing and itchy eyes. If you are someone who rarely enjoys this season, and spends most of it battling congestion and brain fog, then this is for you! Learn how to manage your spring allergies.

Spring allergies can be treated with simple lifestyle changes, and if at all it is required, even advanced medical interventions too can take care of it. Here are some tips that the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) recommends:

Home Remedies

Before turning to medications, try considering these lifestyle changes and see if it works:

1. Shut Your Windows: Pollen counts are usually at the highest in early morning and evening. This is the time when you can start keeping your windows and doors closed. Whether you are at your home or in your car, this way you can prevent pollen from entering. You can also use air conditioning instead of opening the windows and keep the indoor cool.

2. Bed-Time Routine: If you have spent your day outdoors, the best thing to do is to take a shower and change your clothes before you hit the bed. This is a great way to get rid of pollen from your clothes, skin, and hair. This will reduce your chance of sleeping om a pillow full of pollen

3. Air Purifiers: You can use HEPA, also known as the High-efficiency particulate air filters, which can catch pollen, pet dander and dust and other kinds of air purifier to filter out allergens.

4. Limit Outdoor Activities: Try to limit your activities especially early in the morning and in the evening. If you must go, put on a mask. An N-95 mask, which had peaked during COVID-19 times could come handy even now.

5. Spring Cleaning: Clean your house, and other surfaces. Even if you do not see the dust, it is there, and cleaning those surfaces will help you get rid of accumulation of pollen and other allergens.

OTC Medications

In case these lifestyle changes are not helping you, you can go for over-the-counter medications. These include:

1. Antihistamines: They block histamine, which is a chemical released in body during an allergic reaction. It also reduces symptoms like sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes.

2. Nasal Sprays: These could be your best friend if you are struggling with congestion. You can also use saline nasal sprays and neti pots.

3. Decongestants: These help by narrowing blood vessels in the nasal passages, and reduce swelling, which in return improves airflow.

Note that we do not recommend or prescribe any medicines. It is always advisable to go see your GP first.

Prescribed Medications

Your doctor is most likely to prescribe a desloratadine in case your symptoms are not controlled with OTC medications. You may also be prescribed azelastine that could work better on your inflammation and congestion.

If you have severe allergy symptoms, you may be put on corticosteroids for short-term oral use. It can reduce inflammation throughout the body.

Allergy Immunotherapy

This is called allergy immunotherapy, which is a long-term solution that can desensitize your immune system to specific allergens. This treatment is considered when other treatments are ineffective and when allergies significantly impact your daily life.

The two allergy immunotherapy involves, a shot called subcutaneous immunotherapy or SCIT, and sublingual immunotherapy or SPLI, which is an allergen tablets placed under the tongue.

Experts have urged people to keep an eye on their fingernails, as unusual changes might point to underlying health problems. According to specialists, certain nail colours could indicate the risk of severe illnesses. While some changes may be harmless, specific colour alterations could require medical attention. The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) has outlined concerning nail symptoms on its website.

The organisation stated: "Have you noticed a change to any of your nails lately? A change in colour, texture, or shape can be harmless, but it can also be a sign of disease. If you notice any of the following changes to a fingernail or toenail, it's time to see a board-certified dermatologist."

Fingernails Colour Change: What Changes Could Signal Serious Health Conditions

Based on this advice, AAD specialists recommend watching for these nail colours:

• White
• Half pink, half white
• Yellow
• Dusky red half-moons
• A dark streak

They explained: "Nail colour changes can sometimes reflect conditions inside the body. Certain shades may serve as warning signs for specific diseases."

White Nails: Could Indicate Liver Problems or Diabetes

The AAD points out that nails turning white may be a sign of liver disease or diabetes. In liver disease, this is particularly likely in people with cirrhosis, the most advanced stage of the condition.

However, nails can naturally become whiter with age. Still, it is recommended to have any noticeable changes checked by a healthcare professional.

Half Pink, Half White Nails: Possible Sign of Kidney Disease

Nails that appear half pink and half white may indicate kidney problems. The AAD describes this pattern as “a white colour on the upper part of one or more nails and a normal to reddish-brown colour below.”

Yellow Nails: Could Signal Lung or Circulatory Issues

Yellowing of the nails may be linked to lung disease and could reflect problems in the circulatory or lymphatic systems.

"When these systems don’t function properly, fluid can accumulate in the soft tissues beneath the skin, causing nails to turn yellow," explains the Cleveland Clinic. That said, yellow nails can also result from fungal infections or smoking.

Dusky Red Half-Moons: Potential Early Sign of Cancer

The AAD warns that a new or changing dark streak under a nail could indicate cancer, particularly melanoma, which is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. The NHS also advises seeing a GP if “you have a dark area under a nail that has not been caused by an injury.”

Dark Patches Under the Nails: When to Seek Immediate Care

Noticing a dark patch beneath your nail may point to skin cancer. Experts recommend visiting a GP as soon as possible if this occurs.

Other Nail Colours To Watch

Additional nail colours that may indicate health issues, according to the AAD, include:

• Blue nails: Could indicate insufficient oxygen in the blood.
• Pale nails: Might point to anaemia.
• Blue half-moons: Could suggest exposure to toxins or poisoning.

Many in their late 30s and early 40s find themselves Googling weird stuff, including 'why am I having a tingling feelin in my arm?' 'why do I feel like something is brushing across my arm?', and more. This is what many call a phantom feeling arm, which means there is nothing actually tickling, but you feel it anyway. Medically, it is known as paresthesia, a tingling feeling or numb sensation, usually what people refer to as the pins and needles sensation. This is caused by temporary pressure on a nerve or any underlying nerve damage issue.

If you look up anything like that, many women claimed, it instantly shows: perimenopause.

Despite an increased awareness around it, perimenopause and menopause still remain a taboo. In a survey, it was found that 54 per cent of women were concerned about the uncertainty they are about to face in their perimenopause and menopause period.

Menopause is not just hot flashes, it is much more than that. Dr Mahima Gulati, an endocrinologist at UConn Health points out symptoms like gaining weight despite "doing everything right", brain fog, aching joints, sleepless nights, exhausting days, and depleted energy. She says "These symptoms are real. This is not something women are imagining, and it is not just aging. There are real biological changes happening, and women deserve evidence based care and support as they move through them."

What Can Help Women Dealing With Menopause and Perimenopause?

Before going into the solution, let us first understand what these term really mean.

Perimenopause: It is the period when a menstruator transitions to menopause, or when the period stops permanently. This phase is characterized by fluctuating hormone levels, irregular periods, which could be shorter, longer, heavier, or lighter, hot flashes, sleep problems and mood changes.

Menopause: This is the natural, permanent end of menstruation defined as 12 consecutive months without a period. This typically occurs between ages 45 to 55.

What Can Help In Menopause And Perimenopause?

Form Connections

“For women to sit in a room and realize they are not alone is incredibly therapeutic. Connection itself reduces the burden of chronic conditions,” points out Dr Gulati.

The doctor points out that women often learn from each others’ experience and this is why social connections are extremely important in this time.

Pay Attention On Sleep

Sleep problems are one of the most common and exhausting symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. Hormonal changes can disrupt deep sleep, causing women to wake up in the early hours, deal with night sweats, and struggle to fall back asleep. When this happens regularly, it leads to severe energy drain, not just tiredness.

To improve sleep, Gulati focuses on simple, practical habits. These include keeping a regular sleep schedule, avoiding caffeine and alcohol in the evening, reducing screen time after 7 p.m., keeping phones out of the bedroom, and practicing calming activities like yoga or meditation. Drinking enough water during the day can also help regulate body temperature at night and reduce hot flashes.

Managing Stress Differently

Instead of trying to eliminate stress, which is often unrealistic, Gulati encourages women to change how they respond to it. Stress is treated as a signal to reassess priorities, set boundaries, and ask for support when needed. This shift helps build resilience and prevents burnout.

Movement Beyond Exercise

Physical activity becomes especially important in midlife, but it’s not just about workouts. Strength training helps protect muscles and bones, while regular movement throughout the day, balance exercises, and flexibility work support long-term health. Reducing long sitting hours is just as important as planned exercise.

Reducing Harmful Habits

Gulati also advises cutting back on alcohol and avoiding tobacco. After menopause, alcohol can worsen sleep, increase belly fat, and raise the risk of conditions like breast cancer and osteoporosis. Limiting late-night screen use can further improve sleep quality.

Eating to Support the Body

Nutrition is another key focus. Rather than aiming for perfection, Gulati encourages small, steady improvements like eating more vegetables and protein, staying hydrated, and choosing foods that may ease menopausal symptoms. The goal is better energy, sleep, and overall health, not just weight loss.

Glaucoma is an umbrella term for a group of eye diseases that create pressure inside your eyeball, which can damage delicate, critical parts at the back of your eye, including the optic nerve.

While most of the diseases are progressive, meaning they gradually get worse and eventually cause permanent vision loss and blindness. In fact, glaucoma is the second-leading cause of blindness worldwide and is the leading cause of blindness for people over 60 years old.

Dr Niteen Dedhia, Medical Director, Ojas Maxivision Eye Hospital tells Business Standard: "Glaucoma slowly and quietly causes damage to the optic nerve. Changes in eye pressure, blood flow and nerve fibres occur over time, while the brain often compensates for the loss.

"As a result, symptoms go unnoticed, and by the time vision loss becomes apparent, the damage is usually permanent."

Many forms of glaucoma have no warning signs and the effect is extremely gradual, to the point that you may not notice a change in vision until the condition is in its late stages.

Here are some symptoms that mid-age people need to keep an eye out for:

1. Gradual loss of circumferential vision

One of the earliest symptoms of glaucoma is damage and subsequent loss of peripheral vision. Dr Dedhia noted: “Glaucoma starts by damaging the peripheral vision but doesn’t affect the centre (front) vision."

If you seem to struggle with spotting objects approaching from the side or bump into things more often, you may be experiencing early stages of the disease and not merely experiencing normal ageing.

2. Difficulty seeing or reading in the dark or low light settings

3. Frequent changes in eye power

Dr Neeraj Sanduja, Ophthalmologist, Eye Surgeon at Viaan Eye Centre, Gurgaon told the publication: "Needing frequent prescription changes or feeling that glasses 'never feel quite right' may reflect subtle visual field changes caused by glaucoma rather than simple refractive error progression."

4. Eye pressure or unusual discomfort

Open-angle glaucoma, the most common form of the condition that causes patchy blind spots in your side vision, is often painless or limited to a mild sense of pressure or heaviness in the eyes.

Those suffering from open-angle glaucoma may notice a dull ache after prolonged screen time or reading that improves with rest. Frequently mistaken as regular eye strain, it is often ignored, however, may indicate subtle increases in eye pressure that require professional evaluation.

5. Frequent headaches with eye strain

Frequent headaches, especially when accompanied by eye strain or blurred vision, should not be ignored as migraine pain as it may signal rising eye pressure or early glaucoma changes, Dr Dedhia warns.

Who Is at Risk for Glaucoma?

Certain groups of people have a higher than normal risk of getting glaucoma which includes those who:

• have high eye pressure
• are farsighted or nearsighted
• have had an eye injury
• use long-term steroid medications
• have corneas that are thin in the center
• have thinning of the optic nerve
• have diabetes, migraines, high blood pressure, poor blood circulation or other health problems affecting the whole body
• are over age 40
• have family members with glaucoma
• are of African, Hispanic, or Asian heritage