It’s allergy season, which means hay fever, and one of your best lines of defense is sinus irrigation, otherwise known as nasal lavage.

In the U.S., nasal allergies, or allergic rhinitis -- commonly referred to as hay fever -- account for one of the most common causes of chronic illness. This is usually due to inhaling environmental pollutants, such as tree pollen and other airborne particles. Hay fever can also be caused by pets, insects and mold, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

Unfortunately, some people have persistent allergic rhinitis or pollinosis, which persists year-round. Symptoms of both acute and chronic disease include sneezing, stuffy nose, runny nose, postnasal drip, watery eyes and itching of the nose, eyes or the roof of the mouth. Symptoms can last as long as there is exposure to the trigger, according to Mayo Clinic.

Chronic inflammation solutions and their protocols have changed. However, there are still some basic fundamentals that can alleviate symptoms. Neti Pot, for example, or a nasal lavage, has been around for centuries, is an often overlooked tool where over-the-counter medication typically takes center stage, according to WebMD.

One study, published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, conducted over a period of three months on 747 participants, concluded that saline rinsing reduced the number of patients reporting symptoms versus using no rise at all. The rinses are an inexpensive yet effective alternative to steroids and over-the-counter medications.

Nasal irrigation should not be considered the cure for nasal inflammation and allergies, however. When symptoms interfere with your quality of life, it is time to see a ear, nose and throat doctor.

"We've been talking about the day-to-day things like topical sprays and doing sinus irrigation. While they're certainly helpful, there's limits to what those topical medications can do," Dr. Manish Khanna of Capitol Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told Maryland Business Daily.

Help is out there. Begin by taking this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.