It’s now March, which means that spring is almost here! The return of the birds and the blooming of the flowers is something we look forward to every year. Allergies, however, are less exciting, but no less a part of spring for many. According to the CDC, 25% of American adults have a seasonal allergy. If you’re one of them, there are some steps you can start taking now to prepare yourself for spring.
Allergens in Alabama
Let’s discuss some of the biggest regional culprits for your allergy symptoms. Here in Alabama, trees are the first to begin releasing their pollen into the air, marking the beginning of hay fever season. Specifically, oak, pine, juniper and cedar trees bloom in the spring, and if you have an allergy to tree pollen, you’ll probably notice. Grass pollen will join the party closer to the summer months.
Preparations for Allergy Season
Below is our checklist for allergy season preparedness. Now is the perfect time to get ahead with allergy management so you aren’t bowled over by allergy symptoms once the pollen begins to fly.
Know Your Allergy Triggers
You’ll have a much easier time managing your allergies if you know what you’re allergic to. Knowing that you have a tree pollen allergy can be really important information when it comes to handling your symptoms in the spring. If you know you have allergy symptoms but aren’t sure precisely what allergen is triggering them, consider scheduling an allergy test to get confirmation.
Check Your Medicine Cabinet
Make sure you have an ample supply of your favorite allergy medications:
- Antihistamines (Zyrtec, Allegra, Claritin)
- Decongestants (Sudafed, Sudafed PE)
- Nasal sprays
- Eye drops
- Skin cream (hydrocortisone, aloe vera, calamine lotion)
Note that this is just a starting point for your reference; you might not need all of these. If, for example, hives or eczema aren’t allergy symptoms you regularly contend with, you may not need to worry about skin cream.
Begin Taking Medication
In the two to three weeks before you anticipate allergy season taking off, begin taking a daily allergy medication. In particular, antihistamines work best when they accumulate in your body, as their function is to block the chemical histamine.
Start Watching the Forecast
The local weather forecast will also include a pollen count. Keep your eye on this so you know when it begins to increase. Once spring allergy season is in full swing, you might consider consulting the pollen count daily and staying indoors on high pollen days.
Prepare Your Home
They don’t call it “spring cleaning” for nothing. Refresh your home of indoor allergens, such as pet dander, dust mites and mold, so you don’t have compounding allergies when tree pollen kicks up.
Also, consider investing in a HEPA air filter for your home to improve indoor air quality and catch any errant allergens you might bring inside on your clothes.
Contact Your Allergist
This is a great time to check in with an allergist to get a head start on allergy management. If you want to learn more or if you want to schedule an allergy test, contact North Alabama ENT Associates today.