How to Start Planning for Spring Allergies

Spring is in the air - literally. As we head into March, pollen, dust, and other tiny microbes are now airborne. If you’re one of the 50 million people affected by allergies, you’re probably already feeling the effects of spring. This year, allergy season is said to come earlier and be more intense than years before, due to the country's mild winter. If you already feel your eyes watering and nose running, here are a few ways you can protect yourself against allergy season.

Keep Pollen Out of Your House

Unfortunately, pollen isn’t just found outside in the park. Whenever you walk into your house, you drag in thousands of microscopic dust and pollen particles. Keep your house a pollen-free zone by increasing your cleaning efforts during peak pollen season. Vacuum and dust your entire house every other day and change your bed sheets and pillow cases every week.

Avoid Peak Pollen Hours

It may seem annoying at first, but planning your schedule around pollen levels can really help alleviate a lot of your symptoms. If you can, avoid being outside when the pollen count is at its highest - usually between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m.

There’s an App for That

Yup, there are actually apps that will help you track pollen levels in your area. ‘AllergyManager’ lets you track the pollen count over the next few days, so you can use it to help plan your outdoor spring activities.

Try Nasal Irrigation

Even if you're blowing your nose regularly or using a nasal spray, pollen can still remain in your nose hairs and sinuses for days. The next time your allergies get really bad, consider using a neti pot to flush your sinuses. A neti pot can alleviate symptoms like sneezing, itching, sinus headaches, nasal congestion, post-nasal drip, and hoarseness.

See an Allergist Before Your First Reaction

Don’t suffer through allergies for a month before you finally accept that it’s not a cold, it’s not going away, and it is allergies. Nowadays, there are numerous treatment options for patients to combat allergies before the season even technically starts. The sooner you begin treatment, the less intense allergy season is going to be!

If you're suffering from allergies this spring, we encourage you to make an appointment at Florida Ear Nose Throat. We offer the most advanced allergy screening, allergy management, and immunotherapy treatments available. To schedule an appointment, give us a call at (877) EAR-NOSE.