How to Reduce Spring Allergy Symptoms
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The return of spring brings with it flowers, warmer weather and allergies. The explosion of pollen from budding plants may trigger symptoms of hay fever. Enjoying warmer weather and gorgeous scenery of spring without the annoyance of itchy, spring allergies is not out of reach.
Symptoms of spring allergies include sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, throat itchiness, wheezing, coughing, difficulty breathing and chest tightness. We have several tips to help you manage spring-time allergies and reduce your sneezing and itchiness.
Keep Indoor Air Clean
Keeping the air inside your home free from allergens will help reduce your allergy symptoms. Using the air conditioner in your house and car can help keep air moving throughout your home and will help decrease the amount of pollen that settles in your house. It can also be helpful to use high-efficiency air-filter throughout your home. The key is to keep air circulating as much as possible, so pollen and other spring allergens don’t have a chance to collect and become more potent, and thereby more irritating to your eyes, mouth, throat and skin.
Rinse Your Sinuses
Rinsing your sinuses with saline solution is a great way to rid your system of any lingering pollen and other allergens. The first time you do a nasal rinse can feel odd and uncomfortable. The result is direct flushing out of the allergens from your nose that cause you to sneeze, feel throat irritation, and experience congestion. Most pharmacies have nasal rinsing kits available to purchase. They will come with either a squeeze bottle or a neti pot and a solution to use. This can be immensely beneficial for spring-allergy sufferers. It can also help you get better sleep if you do it directly before you go to bed.
Use an Over-the-Counter Remedy
There are many effective OTC medications that can help reduce allergy symptoms. It can take some trial-and-error to find the nonprescription medication that works the best for your symptoms, but once you find one that works, spring-time no longer becomes a stress. Medications like Zyrtec, Claritin, Alavert, and Allegra are oral antihistamines that can help you relieve sneezing, itching, and other symptoms you may be experiencing.
See Your Doctor
If OTC medications, rinsing your sinuses and filtering the air in your home isn’t enough, seeing your primary care provider is going to be the next step. If your seasonal allergies are especially irritating, providers can help you discover which specific allergens are causing your symptoms. Your provider can help you find a solution for your symptoms. INTEGRIS Health providers located in Oklahoma can perform skin and blood tests that will help identify the causes of your allergies and get you a prescription, or other allergy relief, to make this spring infinitely more enjoyable.
At INTEGRIS Health, we are dedicated to helping you live your happiest, healthiest life. We have health care providers that are ready to help you find solutions to your health problems and we have services to make those solutions possible. To learn more about your allergies and health, schedule an appointment with one of our providers.
