If you’ve been sneezing a lot, especially this spring, you are not alone. Allergy sufferers all across the United States are experiencing harsher-than-normal symptoms, and experts help explain what makes the situation so obvious.
If you have been keeping up with the updates, you will know that pollen is now entering medium to high levels. The trees producing the most pollen now are maple, birch, and ash. Pollen and other allergy triggers can lead to that uncomfortable feeling we’ve all become accustomed to like itchy eyes and runny noses.
When it comes to people’s allergy symptoms, tree pollen, grass pollen, and mold are often the main offenders. Weather significantly influences pollen counts, which vary during the day. Pollen counts are typically highest during the middle of the day, and tend to decrease later in the day. The hottest and windiest weather tends to provide the most pollen, so those with allergies should stay inside during these scenarios.
So, what can you do to make your allergy symptoms more tolerable?
A few simple steps are the advice of experts:
- Shower and Change Clothes: Strip off and shower in the afternoon or evening after being outdoors to wash pollen off skin and hair.
- Track Pollen Levels: Check the pollen counts on a daily basis and generally stay indoors if counts are high, especially smog midday.
- Medication: There are over-the-counter oral antihistamines, corticosteroid nasal sprays and cromolyn sodium nasal sprays that can reduce your pollen allergy symptoms. You should take the medications before the days you expect high pollen counts.
By taking these precautions, you can better control your allergy symptoms and enjoy the spring season with less interruption.
