8 Surprising Ways Allergies Make You Miserable

This one isn't so mysterious. Inflammation from the allergy, the use of allergy meds (decongestants, nasal steroid sprays, antihistamines), and the sneezing can sometimes lead to blood-tinged snot or nosebleeds.

WHY IT'S ALLERGIES
Inflammation, sneezing, and blowing make your nose raw, and medications can dry it out, causing tissue in your nostrils to crack and expose blood vessels. Don't pick your nose. "People manipulate an uncomfortable nose with their fingers, and that can damage dry tissue," says Beth Corn, M.D., an associate professor of medicine at Mt. Sinai's Icahn School of Medicine.

YOUR PLAN
Apply pressure to your nose for up to 20 minutes while tilting your head forward. For a long-term solution, ask your doctor about nasal steroids. Their inflammation-relieving effects can prevent nosebleeds, although steroids occasionally cause bleeds in some people. You can also keep your nose moist by swabbing it gently with saline nasal gel at night. In rare cases, a nosebleed can be a sign of a disease, so if it lasts longer than 20 minutes, call your doctor.