5 Ways to Beat Spring Allergies
As the snow is finally gone, many of us are excited to spend time outdoors. However, for those with outdoor mold and tree pollen allergies this time of year can be miserable. Common signs of allergies are runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, itchy eyes, mouth or ears. Here are a five tips to help make spring more enjoyable.
1) Start your medications early if advised by your physician. Antihistamines such as Zyrtec, Claritin and Allegra work quickly but normally only last 12-24 hours. These are best used on days that you will be outside for long periods or when pollen counts are high (follow the pollen tracker on the bottom right of our website). Nasal sprays such as Flonase (this is now available over the counter without a prescription) or Fluticasone work best taking them on a regular basis during the pollen season. These nasal sprays are the best allergy medication. Antihistamine eye drops can help those with itchy eyes and these are best used before the symptoms start.
2) Try to keep your windows closed at dusk and during windy days when the pollen counts are normally the highest.
3) Shower in the evening and rinse your hair if you have been outside a lot.
4) Wear sunglasses as this decreases the amount of pollen you get via your conjunctiva (eyes).
5) Consider allergy shots or drops to desensitize you for next year as they will not have an effect on this spring’s symptoms.
Hopefully these tips will help you enjoy the wonderful weather that we have been waiting on for the last 6 months or so. So what are you waiting for? Don't let spring allergies keep you inside! The great outdoors is a great thing this time of year. The weather is not too hot and not too cold. The days are longer, giving you more time to get out there and absorb some good old natural vitamin D.
If you have any other general questions feel free to ask via email or visit my facebook page and post on our wall.
