Spring is officially here! If you’re over the winter woes, spring is an exciting time that brings warmer weather and colorful plants. For others, the season of growth brings something less enticing – spring allergies.
In many parts of the United States, spring allergies begin as early as February and last until summer. This means allergy sufferers spend months of their year with symptoms that range from a mild case of the sniffles to full-blown hay fever.
If you’re tired of sheltering indoors for the spring season, here are six easy ways to beat spring allergies.
Limit time outside.
Some times are worse than others for outdoor allergies, such as early in the morning, late in the afternoon, and days that are windy and warm. Before heading out, check your local pollen counts and try to plan your outdoor activities around the lowest times and days of the week. If you do have to venture out during peak hours, wear protective clothing such as hats, scarves, and sunglasses to limit your exposure.
Clean up when you come in.
Pollen sticks to everything – your clothes, your skin, even your hair. After spending time outdoors during allergy season, promptly remove (and wash) your clothing and take a shower or bath to remove allergens from your body and your home. Remove your shoes before coming inside and ask guests to do the same.
Start medications early.
Medications like antihistamines and nasal steroid sprays can reduce troubling allergy symptoms, but they often take a few days to work. If you’re struggling with sneezes and sniffles, those few days can feel like a lifetime!
For best results, begin taking allergy medications before your symptoms start – ideally a week or two before the season begins. This will help the medication build up in your system and prevent start-of-the-season symptoms.
Keep things clean.
No matter how hard you try, you’re going to bring outdoor allergens into your home. To stay symptom-free indoors, keep your home as clean as possible during allergy season. You should regularly dust and vacuum, wash bedding and blankets, and keep surfaces clear of dust and pollen. Remove your shoes before coming inside and ask guests to do the same.
Change the way you cool.
As tempting as a gentle spring breeze can be, open windows allow other allergens to flood inside your home and car. Keep your windows closed and turn your air conditioner on recirculate to reduce outdoor allergens like pollen and mold.
Try allergy immunotherapy.
Unlike traditional allergy medications, immunotherapy treats the source of your allergies – not just the symptoms. By introducing a small amount of allergens to your body over time, allergy immunotherapy trains your immune system to stop overreacting and build a tolerance to common allergens.
Our sublingual allergy drops are effective at treating more than 118 environmental allergens, from pollen to grasses to ragweed and more. Just a few drops under your tongue each day can provide lasting relief from seasonal spring allergies – for some patients, in as little as three months.