For most people, spring is the time to break out the sunglasses, gardening shears and sunscreen. If you have seasonal allergies, however, your list of spring essentials may also include items like tissue packs, nasal spray and eye drops.
Each spring, flowering plants, trees and grasses release a fine, powdery substance called pollen into the air. That pollen triggers allergic reactions and asthma in more than 50 million people in the United States.
Types of allergies
You may experience seasonal allergies at different times. Timing for common pollen allergens includes:
- February–April: Tree pollen
- April–June: Grass pollen
- August–November: Weed pollen
You can be allergic to just one type of pollen or a combination of them. Your doctor may recommend allergy testing to find out which allergen triggers your symptoms.
Because our climate is getting warmer, allergy season now lasts longer and hits harder than in the past. Plants and trees produce 20% more pollen, and allergy season lasts 3 weeks longer than it did 50 years ago. In California's warm climate, some "seasonal" allergies can be a year-round issue.
Learn what’s happening to your body and how to reduce allergy symptoms so you can enjoy the spring season (and not sneeze your way through it).
How do seasonal allergies affect your body?
If you have a pollen allergy (hay fever or allergic rhinitis), it means your immune system sees pollen as a threat. Breathing in the pollen powder triggers an inflammatory response, which is your body’s defense system.
The lining in your nose may swell, your eyes may water and your mucus production increases. As a result, you may experience these common symptoms of seasonal allergies:
- Congestion
- Itchy or watery eyes
- Postnasal drip
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
Seasonal allergies also cause concerns for people who have allergic asthma or a chronic health condition, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). When allergens affect your nose, throat and respiratory system, it can make breathing difficult and trigger a disease flare-up.
How to reduce seasonal allergies
The best way to manage seasonal allergies typically involves reducing pollen exposure and relieving allergy symptoms.
Take these actions to help reduce the effects of seasonal allergies:
1. Check the outdoor air quality daily
With an airborne allergen like pollen, the quality of the air outside can greatly affect your quality of life. That's why it is critical to know what you are dealing with before you step outside.
Pay attention to the pollen count, which measures the concentration of pollen in the air. You can typically find the pollen count on weather apps or online, where it’s often characterized as:
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
If the local pollen count is high, limit your time outside and do outdoor activities early in the morning. Research shows that tree and grass pollen counts are typically lowest from 4 a.m. to noon, then gradually rise and peak from 2 to 9 p.m.
To reduce exposure while you are outside:
- Do not touch your eyes
- Keep car windows closed
- Wear a mask while working in the yard
2. Protect your indoor air quality
Outdoor allergens can easily make their way inside through open doors and windows. You can also bring pollen into the house on your shoes, clothing and pets.
Take these steps to reduce seasonal allergens in your home:
- Do not hang laundry outside to dry
- Keep windows closed
- Regularly clean or vacuum bedding, floors, fabric furniture and window treatments
- Remove shoes when entering your home
- Shower and wash your clothing after working outdoors
- Use high-efficiency filters in your home's heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system
- Wipe down pets when they come in from outside or bathe them regularly
3. Take allergy medicine early and consistently
Talk to your doctor about starting a medicine routine that can help you manage your allergy symptoms.
Experts suggest starting allergy treatment at least 2 weeks before pollen season begins. Starting early may prevent your body from releasing the chemicals that cause allergy symptoms.
Try these common allergy treatments:
- Nasal rinses reduce mucus and rinse allergens out of your nose.
- Eye drops can relieve eye burning, itchiness, redness and swelling.
- Corticosteroid nasal sprays can effectively reduce many different allergy symptoms.
- Antihistamines relieve sneezing and itching in your nose and eyes.
- Decongestants shrink the nasal lining and relieve stuffiness but should only be used for 3 days or less.
- Prescription oral medication blocks the chemical messengers involved in allergic reactions.
For severe seasonal allergies, your doctor may also recommend immunotherapy. This approach gradually exposes you to increasing amounts of the allergen over time so your immune system stops overreacting and learns to manage it. Immunotherapy is delivered as allergy shots or oral tablets that dissolve under your tongue.
4. Partner with your doctor to manage seasonal allergies
Allergy seasons can change from year to year, so your symptoms may be more severe some years than others. Let your doctor know if you are having trouble controlling your asthma or allergy symptoms. If you experience severe symptoms twice a week or more, your doctor may want to adjust your treatment or dosage. They may also recommend testing for other common allergens.
Communicating with your doctor throughout allergy season can help ensure your allergy management plan matches what you’re experiencing. The goal is to help you stay healthy and active in every season.
Contact Us
If you need help with seasonal allergies, find a doctor at MLK Community Healthcare or call (424) 529-6755 today to make an appointment.