For many, spring marks the start of allergy season. Think runny noses, itchy eyes and lots of sneezing. Warmer temperatures cause trees to bloom, increasing the amount of airborne pollen, which can cause allergy symptoms throughout spring and into summer.
Keep reading to learn about common allergy symptoms and tips to enjoy the spring season to the fullest.
Common Symptoms
Allergy symptoms vary, but common spring ones include:
- Irritated eyes: Your eyes might feel itchy, swollen or watery and can appear slightly red.
- Head congestion: This may result in a stuffy or runny nose, sinus pressure or headaches.
- Sneezing and coughing: Sinus irritation can lead to increased sneezing and coughing.
- Sore throat: A postnasal drip (extra mucus in the back of the throat) can make your throat feel dry, scratchy or sore. It may even feel slightly painful to swallow.
- Itchy skin: Your nose, eyes, mouth and ears may itch. Avoid scratching to reduce irritation.
- Fatigue or brain fog: Allergies can affect concentration and cause sleepiness.
Strategies for Allergy Relief
Although allergies are uncomfortable, medications and small lifestyle changes can help control spring symptoms.
Keep an eye on the tree pollen count in your area.
Check pollen counts to predict flare-ups. Visit WeatherBug’s Live Pollen Map & Allergy Forecast or use pollen tracking apps like My Pollen Forecast. These tools can help you predict when your allergies may be heightened and help you determine if it’s the right time to take allergy medicine.
Choose appropriate spring allergy medications.
Over-the-counter medications can be a major help to address allergy symptoms, but it’s important to figure out what works best for you. There are multiple options, including:
- Antihistamines: Take these medications to suppress sneezing, itching and a runny nose caused by spring allergies. Common options include cetirizine (Zyrtec), loratadine (Claritin), fexofenadine (Allegra) and levocetirizine (Xyzal). Please note that directions may differ based on the brand.
- Nasal sprays: For nasal congestion, postnasal drip or sinus pressure, try an over-the-counter spray such as fluticasone (Flonase) for up to 24 hours of relief.
If these options do not provide enough relief, or you want to use less medication, contact your primary care provider for additional options.
Use saline sprays and neti pots.
A medicine-free option is using a neti pot or nasal rinse with salt water to flush pollen from your nasal cavity. Rinsing one to two times per day can help reduce congestion and sinus pressure from pollen allergies.
Prevent pollen from coming into your home.
If you spend a lot of time outside during peak pollen season, you may bring pollen into your home on clothes, shoes, skin or pets. Remove shoes outside, change clothes before going indoors and consider showering after long periods outside. You can also wipe pets with a towel to reduce pollen brought inside.
Keep your indoor air clean.
Keep windows closed to limit pollen indoors. Pollen is often carried by the wind, and open windows can increase the amount of airborne pollen in your home. Use an air purifier or allergy-reducing HVAC filter to clean your air.
More Resources
Spring allergies can feel like a common nuisance, but there are plenty of reasons why your springtime symptoms may be worth discussing with a provider. If you’re experiencing severe discomfort, contact your health care provider to discuss your options.
