6 Tips to Prevent Spring Allergies
Spring is in the air, which means mild temperatures, green grass, and luscious, blooming flowers.
It’s a beautiful time of year for nature. But if you’re one of the 24.4 million Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies, spring also means an itchy, runny nose, sneezing, congestion, and other bothersome discomforts.
There are some simple ways to reduce your discomfort during spring allergy season. In this article, you’ll learn the best way to stop allergies from starting–plus some tips for reducing them after they’ve hit.
What causes spring allergies?
Sometimes called hay fever or allergic rhinitis, seasonal allergy symptoms occur when the body comes into contact with pollen produced by trees, grass, and weeds. While pollen is a harmless substance, your immune system interprets it as a danger and releases antibodies and chemicals into the blood to attack the pollen. A key chemical released is histamine, and histamine causes inflammation and itching in the mucous membranes in your nose, eyes, and throat as your body works to fight the allergen.
Which types of pollen affect you depends on your region and your particular biology but when you have allergies in the spring, you’re likely allergic to pollen from trees like oak, ash, and elm.
What are the symptoms of spring allergies?
When you have seasonal allergies, you’re likely to experience some or all of the following every year around the same time, generally starting in February, March, or April:
Runny nose
Watery eyes
Sneezing
Coughing
Itchy nose and eyes
Dark under-eye circles
Headache
Fatigue or general malaise
In rare, severe cases, fever
These symptoms can dramatically affect your quality of life. But with a little preparation, you can reduce the severity of your symptoms and possibly prevent them altogether.
Tips for preventing spring allergies
Check the weather.
Make a habit of checking your local weather forecast each day to learn how much and what kinds of pollen will be in the air. If it’s going to be a high-pollen day, stay inside as much as possible.
Clean house.
It may be tempting to open the windows and let a cool, spring breeze into your home but doing so will make your symptoms worse. Use the air conditioner in your home and car. Change your A/C filters often and consider buying a HEPA filter and an air purifier. Wash your bed and other linens in hot water frequently and vacuum often. Wash your hair and clothing before sitting or lying on furniture to avoid tracking pollen through your home. The same goes for your pets; bathe them thoroughly after they’ve been outside. Because dust mites can exacerbate spring allergy symptoms, consider buying dust-mite-proof pillow covers and mattress toppers.
Protect yourself outdoors.
If you enjoy outdoor exercise or other activities, limit them or bring them indoors, if possible. When you do go out, wear sunglasses outdoors to protect your eyes. Don’t touch or rub your nose, and wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
Start allergy medications early.
Start taking your allergy medicines 2-4 weeks before you usually start experiencing symptoms each year. This gives the meds time to build up in your system, preventing histamine production and inflammation in your body. Many effective antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal sprays are now available over the counter, so you can also experiment to see which ones work best for you.
Rinse your sinuses.
Pollen can get lodged in the nasal passages, so it’s important to flush it out. Use a neti pot or other nasal irrigation device to flush your sinuses and ease congestion. You’ll need to use distilled or sterile water with saline–not tap water. Add a small amount of baking soda to your saline solution for extra cleansing.
Talk to your clinician.
If you’ve tried preventative measures and over-the-counter meds and you’re still suffering from seasonal spring allergies, talk to your clinician about other treatment options. For severe allergies, Nice Healthcare can refer you to an allergist, who can provide skin and blood tests and administer shots that deliver small doses of the allergens you’re allergic to, so you build immunity.
Spring allergies are no fun. But they are preventable. If you’re already experiencing seasonal allergies, some of these tips may still bring you some much-needed relief. But if you’re struggling to alleviate your symptoms, talk to your clinician about additional treatment options.
Nice offers a variety of services to benefit patients with seasonal allergies. Our virtual and in-home primary care visits and prescription management services make it fast and easy to connect with a healthcare provider who can help you find relief.
If you’re a patient looking for more information on our primary care services, click here.
If you’re an employer who would like to know more about how you can help your employees manage their seasonal allergies using Nice Healthcare’s services, click here.