Published February 9, 2012 02:16PM
Cotton Head
The day after a long, tough, hike I often feel like my head is filled with cotton and like my eyes won't fully open. What can I do to prevent or cure this? I drink a lot of water, but that doesn't seem to help.
'Buck Tilton'
Question:
The day after a long, tough, hike I often feel like my head is filled with cotton and like my eyes won’t fully open. What can I do to prevent or cure this? I drink a lot of water, but that doesn’t seem to help.
Submitted by – Pam – Boston, MA
Answer:
My best guess is that you’re dealing with some kind of allergy. The head full of “cotton” and swelling or dry eyes are standard indicators.
You might benefit from talking to your doctor about taking Zyrtec or another antihistamine prior to hiking to see if it helps alleviate your symptoms. Also trying to hike in different areas, environments, or even timeframes may be helpful as you won’t be exposed to the allergens (pine, cottonwood, and ragweed pollens are common offenders) that are giving you the problem.