Allergies-Galore! And Then Some ..

Now that spring is finally here, allergies are also in full swing. As a fellow allergified victim, I'm probably at my all-time low around this time of the year, with constant sneezing, congestion, mucus, boogers, phlegm .. you name it, I've got it. But really, what does all that sniffling and snorting really mean? What does your body want from you? And what can you do to remedy it?

If you’re congested, your snuffling and snorting are typically the result of mucus blocking the flow of air in your nose, says David Brodner, MD, an ear, nose, and throat specialist in Boca Raton, Florida, and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Otolaryngology. Flushing with a saline rinse can clear excess mucus that comes with a common cold or seasonal allergies, says Melissa Pynnonen, MD, assistant professor of otolaryngology at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor. Several brands of saline rinse are available at drugstores, or mix up your own saline with eight ounces of warm water and one-quarter teaspoon salt. Put half of the solution in each nostril using a syringe or nasal spray bottle. It’ll flow out of the opposite nostril. Repeat on the other side, and then blow your nose. (msnbc.com)

For other odd gurgles, cracks, and growls coming from your body, check out this health feature from the Today show to decode what your body's sounds are trying to tell you.