Spring is a beautiful sight to behold with all the returning leaves and new flowers, but springtime can wreak havoc on your allergies. If you suffer from spring allergies, there are plenty of ways you can decrease your symptoms.
What Causes Allergies?
Before you can begin addressing your allergies, it’s helpful to know what exactly is causing them. In the spring, many plants will release pollen which allows other plants to be fertilized. Pollen is very small and can irritate anyone if it gets in your nose or eyes. However, symptoms are worse for those who are alleargic to pollen. If you’re allergic, your body will release histamines into the blood system which trigger a response in your immune system. This is what leads to common allergy symptoms such as sneezing, watering eyes, a runny nose, itching, coughing, and congestion.
Common Allergy Treatments
If you have serious allergy symptoms, then it might be helpful to visit a doctor to be tested for allergies. They can provide you with a treatment plan. Typically, this plan will include some sort of medication to help alleviate your symptoms. Many people are prescribed antihistamines to help with their allergies. To help with decongestion, you can use nasal sprays. Some doctors may also prescribe allergy shots. These shots are only given occasionally, and they help to reduce or prevent allergy attacks. In most cases, allergy symptoms are directly addressed by medication. The only other way to reduce allergy attacks and symptoms is by taking measures in your daily life to avoid allergens.
Managing Allergies in Daily Life
To avoid allergy symptoms, you need to do your best to avoid pollen and other springtime irritants. If you aren’t exposed to as much pollen, your symptoms won’t be as severe. When at home, make sure you keep the windows closed so pollen doesn’t blow into your home. Remove shoes before entering the home and change clothes whenever you come home. You should also shower before going to bed to make sure you’ve cleaned away any pollen. It’s also helpful to have a central air conditioning system. This keeps the air circulating and filtered so you don’t have pollen blowing around your home.
When outside, cover yourself as much as possible to avoid pollen. You can wear sunglasses, a large hat, or even a face covering. If you’ll be outside for extended periods of time (doing yard work for example, then wearing an N-95 mask can help you breathe easy. Certain times of the day can also lead to more exposure. Pollen levels are higher from 5am to 10am and in the evening. Of course, there will also be more pollen on windy days.
Staying On Top of Spring Cleaning
Make your home a sanctuary from allergies by always keeping it clean. It might be helpful for you to do your spring cleaning a little early. Giving your home a deep clean can ensure that there are no irritants in your home. Throughout the season, make sure you continually clean your home. Wipe down all surfaces, vacuum regularly, and clean anything that may have been exposed to pollen. Prioritize areas near doors and windows as this is where pollen will most likely enter your home.
Spring allergies can make the entire season nearly unbearable. Taking steps to address and reduce your symptoms can help you enjoy springtime more. Not all allergies are the same, so it’s worth it to understand how they affect you.
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