Allergy Help For Springtime

Allergies get almost unbearable in springtime. Some common allergy symptoms are runny itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, sinus infections, stuffiness, and headaches. You don’t have to suffer with allergies until summer. Here are some tips to help you have a happier spring.

Avoidance

Okay, it’s pretty hard to avoid breathing outdoor air; pollen is everywhere. But even though you can’t avoid going out in it, there are ways to minimize your exposure. Here are some tips on avoidance of allergens this spring.

* Window filters – If you really like the fresh air of spring, you can get filters that fit in your windows. Finer than screens, these filters fit into your open window and sometimes have a fan attached. These allow you to pull in fresh air and filter out pollens.

* Air purifiers – Having air purifiers in your home, especially in your bedroom, can really help with your comfort. Air purifiers can remove the pollen from the household air, which can come in via open windows, on hair and clothes, or it can be tracked in on shoes.

* Heating and cooling – If you turn on your air conditioner or heat during spring, make sure your filters are clean. Heating and cooling systems can pull in pollen-saturated air and bring it into your home.

* Masks – When working out in the yard or when you’re just outdoors, you can wear a simple face mask. This helps immensely with respiratory symptoms.

Eyes

For your eyes, over-the-counter drops may help. You also might want to wear clear safety glasses while working outside to protect your eyes from allergens. Another tip for helping your eyes – don’t rub them, even if they itch. Rubbing can introduce more allergens into your eyes from your hands, and rubbing can also irritate your eyes and exacerbate under-eye circles and puffiness.

Medications

There are a variety of over-the-counter medications you can choose from. Experts generally agree, though, that taking allergy medications is something you should do temporarily and as minimally as possible. Make sure that the allergy medication you choose does not make you sleepy at times when you need to be alert, such as driving.

If you don’t want to take oral medication, nasal gels and sprays can help. Inhalers can help with lung and throat symptoms. You might prefer this kind of topical treatment, especially if you need to avoid drowsiness.

Those are some simple tips to get allergy help for springtime. You can ask your doctor for more personalized instructions.