In most places, spring is the season for mild weather, longer days, blossoming flowers—and pesky allergies. As the earth begins to bloom after a long winter, seasonal allergies can occur if your immune system mistakes pollen and other harmless substances for threats that must be fought. As a result, you may experience symptoms such as a runny nose, itchy, watery eyes, coughing, and sneezing.
While it can be difficult to avoid these symptoms entirely if you’re prone to seasonal allergies, the following steps may help:
- Keep an eye on pollen counts. Various sources, including pollen.com and The Weather Channel, publish approximate pollen counts in your zip code on a given day. By checking these regularly, you can anticipate when your allergies may be worse and begin taking preemptive measures (including planning to stay indoors as much as possible on high pollen days).
- Start taking allergy medicines early. Allergy medicines work by suppressing your immune system’s response to allergens. By starting to take them regularly at least a month before spring begins in your area, you can begin preparing your body to respond properly to the perceived threat. With many different over-the-counter brands to choose from, you may need to try a few different medications before finding one that works for you.
- Take a shower after being outside. While staying inside as much as possible is one of the best ways to avoid seasonal allergy symptoms, it can sometimes be difficult to avoid spending time outdoors. If you’ve been outside, taking a shower as soon as you get in can help reduce the amount of pollen you bring into your home. Additionally, consider washing down pets and kids after they’ve been outside, and keep your windows closed.
- Change your air filters. While it’s important to change your home’s air filters at regular intervals throughout the year, changing them more frequently during the spring can help remove allergens from the air you breathe. You may also consider investing in a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) air purifier, which pushes the air through a fine mesh that traps pollen and other irritating particles.
- Talk to your doctor. If you’ve tried all of these steps and still can’t find relief, it may be time to visit a doctor. He or she will likely conduct skin and blood tests to determine which allergens are triggering your symptoms, and may recommend seasonal allergy shots that can retrain your immune system to ignore particular allergens.
Sources:healthtalk.com
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