Spring Sickness

Ten Tips to Ease Spring Allergies

With the peak of the spring allergy season fast approaching, millions of Americans are keeping their tissue boxes close by and trying to decide whether a walk in the park is really such a good idea.

The budding trees and blooming flowers associated with the early return of spring mark an increase in itchy, watery eyes, sneezing and other allergy symptoms. Warm, wet winters normally signal a bad allergy season in the spring so be prepared for a beautiful spring with plenty of airborne pollen to breathe.

The annual bout with tree and grass pollens can begin as early as late February and last through the beginning of the summer. While many consider allergies to be just a nuisance, in severe cases the symptoms can mimic a bad flu - that persists for months. Seasonal allergies often trigger asthma attacks due to the build up of irritating pollen and fluid in the lungs.

Many allergy sufferers wind up with secondary infections involving the sinuses, ears, throat, nose and lungs from untreated symptoms. The fluid that builds up in reaction to the pollen allergy provides a wonderful haven for bacteria to grow.

Allergy sufferers don’t have to cope with the symptoms every spring and fall. An allergist or immunologist can offer relief and a plan to control the cycle of symptoms. There are treatments that range from pills and nasal inhalants to shots that trick your immune system into accepting the pollen.

These treatments may not eliminate the discomfort of allergies, but they can make the symptoms less disruptive to the activities you enjoy outdoors in the spring.

What can you do to avoid suffering from seasonal allergies? The only way to avoid pollen is to move to somewhere that has no grass, trees or weeds - or lock yourself in a sealed, air-conditioned room until the pollen is gone. Fortunately, there are less drastic steps you can take to make yourself more comfortable. The AAAAI offers the following tips to help allergy sufferers...