Allergy Season - Prevention & Ways to Cope

Spring allergies are now in full swing! With the warmer weather, pollen is absolutely everywhere. Having seasonal allergies can be challenging with a stuffy nose, dry eyes, and sneezing. The pollen in the air triggers chemicals in your body called histamines that cause the sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes. However, there are a few easy fixes to be able to manage your spring allergies. Keep reading to learn more about preventing and coping with allergy season!

Start taking meds early

Before allergy season starts, begin taking your allergy medication. Being ahead of the curve is crucial in reducing the effects the pollen has on your allergy symptoms. Taking allergy medication before allergy season starts allows your body to build up a defense so when the pollen hits, your body can fight back. It is smart to start taking these medications about 12 weeks before allergy season.

Reduce exposure

While the pollen blooms outside, it can easily get inside of your house. Keep your air conditioner running to keep pollen outside. You may want to invest in some air purifiers to extract some of the pollen out of the air in your home. Also avoid drying your laundry outside so pollen does not settle on it.

Travel Smart

If you are planning on traveling, check on what allergens will be in the air and what the typical day is like with the allergen counts. When driving your car, keep the windows closed and the air conditioning on to keep most of the pollen out. Make sure to recirculate the air in your car so it does not bring in pollen from outside.

Avoid the Pollen

Pollen has it's peak points throughout the day, between 5 and 10 am. Stay inside during these times if your can to avoid the high pollen counts. On hot, dry, and windy days the pollen counts are also very high. Avoid wooden areas and spots with many flowers. For your kids with seasonal allergies, play outside later in the day and make sure to wash their hair and change their clothes when they come in from outside.

When to see your doctor for your allergies

Typically, over the counter medications are enough to combat seasonal allergies. Unfortunately, some people have more severe allergies. If your allergies are not helped by over-the-counter medication, your symptoms last more than a week, or you develop a cough and chest tightness, you should see your doctor.

Avoiding pollen can allow you to have a more enjoyable spring season. By taking your medications early and reducing your pollen exposure you can stay sneeze free!

If you need to consult a doctor about your allergies, look through our services at AccessOPEN.com to see how we can help.

Sources:

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/a-seasonal-allergy-survival-guide/