What Can You Do to Minimize Suffering from Seasonal Allergies?

While the thought of spring may be a welcoming prospect with warm weather and flowers in bloom, spring may be your least favorite season if you are a seasonal allergy sufferer. Springtime is the peak of allergy season, since plants are awakening and releasing massive amounts of pollen into the air, which may irritate your nasal passages and leave you in tears. If you dread the arrival of spring because you know allergies will come with it, try out these strategies to keep your symptoms to a minimum.

Change your air filters

If you have an HVAC system at home, changing your air filters should be at the top of your spring-cleaning list. Swapping out your filter every 1-3 months will significantly reduce pollen count indoors, but remember to wear a facemask when you change out the old filter to avoid an allergy attack.

Take your pet to the groomer

Dander is only one of the ways pets can cause an allergic reaction. Since their fur attracts pollen and airborne irritants when they are outdoors, a few extra trips to the groomer might prevent Fido from bringing in extra pollen. You can also use wet wipes or a damp paper towel to wipe off your fluffy-friend’s fur between visits to the groomer.

Check the pollen count

When you know what type of allergens irritate you most—pollen, mold, or weeds—you will be better able to avoid exposure outdoors. There are many different allergy and pollen tracker apps that can help you plan your time outside wisely so you don’t get hit with sudden allergy symptoms. If you can’t avoid going alfresco when pollen counts are high, take an antihistamine before you head outside to prevent symptoms from starting.

Cover your eyes outdoors

If you get watery eyes when allergies strike, you can find some relief by keeping your eyes covered during the day. Simply wearing sunglasses can cut down on eye irritation, so make sure that you have a great pair to wear all spring long.

Spend time by the water

When you plan a spring vacation, try to head to an ocean or bay, since areas near large water formations generally have lower pollen counts. Anytime you take a vacation, it is wise to check out the pollen count in an area to be sure that you are prepared.

Along with the tips above, you can find allergy relief with a visit to the doctor. Don’t have time to schedule an appointment? That’s no problem when you rely on the convenience of MeMD’s telehealth solution for your care!