Our Top Tips to Help You Nip Those Springtime Allergies in the Bud

We know spring is nearly here when the weather warms and days get longer. Spring can also signal its arrival through blooming flowers and trees. However, those new blooms also herald spring allergy season. 

If you’re one of the 50 million Americans living with allergies, you know that March and April bring a vicious barrage of pollen and other unfriendly allergens ready to leave you sneezy, itchy, and fatigued. 

While there is no cure for seasonal allergies, plenty of effective management methods can significantly reduce your symptoms and allow you to enjoy the changing seasons fully. 

At HealthStone Primary Care Partners in Hollywood, Florida, our primary care team, led by Charles Stone, MD, understands how miserable the seasonal allergy season can be. So, we’ve highlighted some common spring allergy triggers and how to manage them in this month’s blog. 

What’s behind your springtime allergies?

The main culprit of spring allergies? Tree pollen. Trees and flowers use pollen for reproduction, and the wind or insects can spread the pollen. 

Plants need to distribute pollen to start the next generation. But, when they land inside your nose, your body goes into defense mode and releases chemicals such as histamine, triggering allergy symptoms. 

You may be allergic to pollen from trees and flowers in your neighborhood. However, pollen can travel for miles on a windy day, so it could be that you’re allergic to pollen that’s native to another region, even several states away. 

Grass and weed pollens can also trigger springtime allergies, though they tend to bloom in late spring and early summer. 

Managing your springtime allergies

One of the best things you can do to manage your seasonal allergies is narrow down your allergy triggers. While a vast list of tree, grass, and weed pollens can leave you sneezing, undergoing allergy testing or tracking allergy symptom days can provide vital information. 

When you know what’s triggering your allergies, you can be more vigilant about staying indoors on high pollen count days or avoiding areas that have a dense population of that particular plant. 

Because it may not be possible always to avoid your triggers, here are some other effective allergy treatment methods: 

• Close doors and windows at home and in the car during allergy season
• Use an air purifier in the home
• Clean your air filters
• Dust and vacuum regularly 
• Wash your hands and face and change your clothes after being outside
• Wear a dust mask for yard work

When you do find yourself dealing with allergy symptoms, you can take medications like antihistamines or decongestants. Some people also respond well to nasal sprays or ninses to clear their sinuses. 

For assistance with seasonal allergy management, look no further than our HealthStone Primary Care Partners team. Schedule an appointment by calling our office or using our online booking feature today.