Spring into Allergy Season

flowering tree

As temperatures rise, many of us crave the great outdoors after being confined inside during the winter months. However, not everyone welcomes this time of year, particularly those who suffer from allergies. While the sight of blooming flowers and green foliage can be beautiful, it can also trigger a host of uncomfortable symptoms such as sneezing, watery eyes, a scratchy throat, and an itchy nose. To brace yourself for the upcoming allergy season, here are some tips to consider.

Talk to a Doctor

If you’ve never been to an allergist before but you are more than positive that you have seasonal allergies, now is a good time to make an appointment. This will ensure that you are getting the right treatment so that you can enjoy spring and summer and not suffer needlessly from high pollen counts.

Begin Treatment

Whether or not you make an appointment with an allergist, starting allergy treatments at least two weeks before you feel your allergy symptoms can be incredibly beneficial. If you do see an allergist, make sure to take the medicine they give you as prescribed. If you decide to take over-the-counter medications, whether in pill form or nasal sprays, make sure to take those as prescribed also.

If you visit an allergist, they may be able to give you more than just medication to manage your symptoms. In some cases, they may put you on a series of shots that will desensitize you to the allergens that trouble you. It may take a few months to feel relief, but this could be a longer term solution for your allergy issues.

Keep Pollen at Bay

Regrettably, you cannot manipulate the pollen levels in the environment, but you can restrict the amount that infiltrates your home. Regular cleaning and vacuuming, coupled with changing your clothes upon returning indoors, can lower the volume of pollen that enters your home and affects your health. This can significantly alleviate the allergy symptoms you experience.

Keep Track of Pollen Counts

Knowing when pollen counts are highest throughout the day can be advantageous in helping you avoid the negative impact it will have on your health. There are a variety of apps that can be downloaded onto your phone to assist in this endeavor. If you have to be out and about during the day, try to plan it around when pollen counts are at their lowest.

Allergies can severely impact one’s daily life, with persistent sneezing and watery eyes making it difficult to function throughout the day. Congestion and sinus headaches can also add to the challenges of completing tasks. The most effective approach is to proactively manage and treat your allergies.

Here at Alliance Direct Benefits, we want to make sure that you feel good during allergy season and throughout the year. When you become a member, you will have 24/7 access to doctors via app or phone call via a national network of doctors that can answer any medical questions you might have. In addition, should the need arise, they can even prescribe allergy medications so you can get back to living. Give us a call at 1-800-733-2242 (M-F, 7am-5:30pm Central Time) or visit us online today!