There’s nothing like the emergence of spring to brighten spirits and build anticipation for the coming of the warmer months, until the first snootful of pollen arrives if you’re an allergy sufferer.
The allergy specialists at Lawrence Otolaryngology Associates in Lawrence and Ottawa understand the imposition that spring allergies have for those who suffer. We’re here to help with walk-in allergy shots for our patients Monday to Thursday.
Stop letting spring allergies ruin your life, just as outdoor life is getting good again. This month, we’ve prepared a survival guide to help you get through the pollen-filled spring. Here’s what you need to know.
Allergies are essentially an overreaction of your immune system. Instead of quietly waiting for harmful pathogens to invade your body, your immune system jumps all over springtime pollen when you have hay fever.
Pollen from grasses, trees, and weeds aren’t harmful to your body. On their own, they won’t make you sick or affect your health. When your immune system responds to pollen, it alone is triggering the physical symptoms you feel, trying to neutralize the effects of an already neutral substance.
You can minimize the effects of spring allergies by addressing four strategies.
Watch weather information to stay aware of local pollen counts. Most weather apps forecast local conditions. Pollen is usually heaviest early in the day, between 5am and 10am, so when possible, stay indoors until later in the day.
Rain washes pollen particles out of the air, so take advantage of post-shower periods to run errands when your exposure vulnerability is low. N95 masks and wraparound sunglasses can reduce the amount of pollen you intake if you’re working outside.
Don’t wait for symptoms to start. Begin taking over-the-counter (OTC) medications a week or two prior to the expected start of high pollen levels. This gives your immune response time to adapt to the effects of the meds ahead of your exposure to pollen.
Consider oral antihistamines for systemic relief of itching and sneezing, corticosteroid nose sprays to minimize nasal inflammation, and sinus rinses to flush allergens from your nasal passages.
Though the spring breeze can be inviting, keep windows closed through high pollen days. HEPA filters in your vacuum, heating system, and stand-alone air filtration can trap pollen particles.
Forgo the smell of linens dried on clothes lines during the spring. Air drying is a back door through which pollen can enter your home, dosing you with allergens as you sleep.
Change your clothes (including your shoes) and have a shower after playing or working outdoors. Pollen can cling to your body and clothes.
Through allergy testing and immunotherapy, we can pinpoint the pollen allergens to which you’re sensitive and formulate a specific immunotherapy program for you, in the form of allergy shots, which desensitize your body over time, reducing your hay fever symptoms.
Contact Lawrence Otolaryngology Associates at our nearest office to arrange an immunotherapy assessment. Tree pollen starts as early as February in our area, so book your visit online or by phone today.
