Ashford Clinic Blog
Practical Tips for Allergy Season
It’s allergy season, and even if you don’t suffer from seasonal allergy symptoms like itchy, watery eyes or sneezing you might still find the pollen to be otherwise irritating. If you do suffer from those symptoms or any of the others, here are some tips to help you get through the yellow haze of spring allergy season.
Identify whether it’s really allergies. First things first, it’s a good idea to make sure that you are suffering from allergies and not a cold or sinus infection. If you have colored mucus or a fever, it might not actually be allergies after all.
Over-the-counter medications. There are a variety of over-the-counter Antihistamines and allergy medications available that can help relieve symptoms of seasonal allergies. If you aren’t sure what to choose, your doctor can help.
Saline nasal rinses. Not only can saline rinses help clear pollen and other irritants from your nasal passages, but they can also loosen mucus or hydrate dry sinuses.
Keep those windows closed. The warmer temperatures make it tempting to keep the windows open this time of year, but it’s better to keep them shut if you’re avoiding pollen.
Avoid windy weather. Windy weather tends to stir up pollen, and while that’s good for plants it’s not for allergy sufferers.
Avoid early morning outdoor activities. Mornings tend to be when pollen counts are at their highest, so it’s better to save that run for the evening. If you do need to be outside, a hat can add a little protection.
Change your clothing. If you’ve been outside for more than a few minutes, it’s likely that you’re bringing pollen particles back inside with you. To keep this to a minimum, leave outdoor shoes at the door and change your outer clothing. It might even be helpful to shower or rinse skin or even hair of any unwanted pollen.
Keep an eye on that pollen count. Most weather apps will show you not only the local weather but also the local pollen count. They’ll often even show you the type of pollen that is most present at the time.
If you’ve tried all of these but still can’t find any relief from pollen season, we’d like to meet with you and discuss other options that are available. We’re here to help you enjoy spring instead of dreading it.
