Spring is Coming!

The first day of spring this year is March 20th. It’s the season that isn’t too hot nor too cold, it’s “just right.”

The days are longer, and beautiful flowers and trees begin to bloom—what an amazing time to enjoy the outdoors. But for some of us, spring brings on an awful reminder that pollen can cause a number of unwanted symptoms: Spring allergies. There, we said it. 

So, let’s talk about the causes of spring allergies, what you can do to avoid them, and better yet, what to do when you need relief from the nasty symptoms.

There are several strategies for reducing spring allergy symptoms or preventing them altogether. We’ll break them down for you.

Symptoms

Here are just a few of the symptoms caused by spring allergies:

• Itchy and/or watery eyes
• Allergic shiners or dark circles under your eyes
• Swelling in your sinuses
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Sneezing
• Scratchy throat

When springtime comes around, plants and trees release pollen into the air. If you are allergic, your immune system will kick in and try to get rid of them releasing allergic antibodies.

Picture little fighters shooting at dangerous invaders. That’s what role the allergic antibodies play when they see a threat. They kick into attack mode.

Histamine, a chemical or compound released by cells, is launched during the attack and sent into the bloodstream and mucus membranes. Histamine is the substance that causes allergic symptoms to occur, such as itching and sneezing.

Depending on where you live can greatly affect the start and end of your seasonal allergies and your response to them. You may notice that on rainy days the symptoms lessen and increase on sunny days because pollen is airborne. You can check on Pollen.com to see the pollen count and which types of pollen are high on any given day.

Prevention

1. Oral antihistamine. If you are already aware that you suffer from spring allergies, your doctor may suggest taking an oral antihistamine before you start to suffer from any symptoms. This helps to prevent your immune system from releasing histamine.
2. Air filters. There are certain air purifiers that trap and remove pollen all year inside your home. If you have pets that go outdoors, you may want to use a damp towel to do a quick wipe down of their coats as they reenter your home.
3. Close your windows. The pollen count is usually the highest in the morning. Try to keep windows shut until later in the day to prevent pollen from blowing in.
4. Change your bedding, dust, and vacuum often.

Treatment

It may take some time to find out which approach is the most effective at relieving your symptoms and there are a number of over-the-counter options that can be found.

1. Oral antihistamines - reduce or block the effects of histamine.
2. Decongestants - reduce congestion in the nose and sinuses.
3. Nasal spray - can help to reduce congestion, swelling, dripping, and itching.
4. Eye drops - reduce redness and itching.

Home Remedies

1. Nasal saline - Saline, which is a salt-water solution, can be used to rinse nasal passages, reducing postnasal drip. You can get this over the counter or make your own.
2. Steam -  Breathing in steam can be just as effective as a nasal saline treatment. Fill a bowl with hot water and place a towel over your head so the steam is captured.
3. Vitamin C - A powerful antioxidant that reduces allergic reactions and helps your body to fight infection. 
4. Nettle leaf - Taken as a capsule or in a tea, this leaf has both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help reduce sinus congestions and runny noses.

When should I see a doctor?

If you are not finding success with relieving the symptoms and spring allergies are impacting your daily life, you may want to consider seeing your primary physician or an allergist. 

When you do, it’s always helpful to give your doctor the most information possible, such as when allergies seem to worsen, or if there is a particular place that causes the symptoms to increase. Your doctor may order tests to help find the root cause of your symptoms.

“Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's party!'” - Robin Williams

Spring is a time of renewal, a time of new beginnings, new growth; a time for change. Don’t get stuck inside!

As you begin to develop symptoms, remember that as an Impact member, you have the option to start a free visit with a doctor online.

Log in to get started: https://impact.mysharable.com/signin/v1

Happy Spring!