Ready for Spring Allergies?

Allergy season is here, and it is here to stay for a while. The weather throughout the year can impact the severity of allergens. With milder Winters, Spring allergies are becoming worse. This is because with warmer weather trees tend to pollinate earlier and for longer periods, which in turn extends allergy season by several weeks. Believe it or not, there are actions you can take to ease and prevent the effects of seasonal allergies. Below we’ve listed a few of these actions you can take.

Avoid pollen when you can

If you are prone to allergies and you have to go outside, try to avoid going outside when pollen counts are high. This will limit your pollen exposure.

Improve the air in your home

Another way to ease the effects of seasonal allergies is to improve the quality of air in your home. Cleaning your home will clear pollen that might have accumulated. You can reduce pollen in your home by washing your bedding in hot soapy water and drying clothing indoors instead of hanging clothes outdoors to dry.

Change your clothing

When you do go outside and come back inside, it is good to change your clothes. This will lower the chance of seading pollen around on fabrics and furniture indoors.

Even if you’re not experiencing allergies now, it is good to talk to your allergist and start taking allergy medication. It can prevent your body from releasing chemicals including histamines that cause allergic symptoms. There are many medication options to treat allergies such as antihistamines, nasal steroid sprays, and antihistamine nasal sprays.

For those who really suffer during allergy season, allergy shots or allergen immunotherapy treatments are available. The shots work by exposing the immune system to low doses of allergens. Nasal steroids can be used alone or in combination with oral non-sedating antihistamines. Ketotifen eye drops are also available over the counter to treat eye-related allergy symptoms.

Another way to treat allergies without or in combination with medication is to rinse nasal passages with saline. This directly flushes mucus and allergens out of the nose and can provide some relief. To see which medication or combination is best for you, please consult your doctor or allergist.

Allergy season is among us, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer through it. There are many preventatives measures and medication options you can take.

For more information on pollination and seasonal allergies, click here.

Article written by William Graves.