How to Treat and Prevent Spring Allergies

People who enjoy a break from allergy symptoms in the cold winter months often dread the return of spring. With it comes an explosion pollen from trees, grass, and weeds that can trigger allergic rhinitis (hay fever).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 8% of American adults (20 million) and over 7% of children (6 million) experience seasonal allergies.

Symptoms of spring allergies include:

• Sneezing
• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose
• Itchy, watery eyes
• Mouth or throat itchiness
• Wheezing
• Coughing
• Difficulty breathing
• Chest tightness

The CDC reports that children between the ages of 12 and 17 are especially vulnerable. Moreover, seasonal allergies may increase the incidence or severity of respiratory symptoms in adults and children with asthma.

Common Spring Allergens

An allergen is any substance that elicits an abnormal immune response during which the body fights off a perceived threat that is otherwise harmless.

The trees most commonly associated with allergic rhinitis in the U.S. include:

• Ash
• Birch
• Cypress
• Elm
• Hickory
• Maple
• Oak
• Poplar
• Sycamore
• Walnut
• Western red cedar

In the later spring, grass pollens are the key culprit and may include:

• Bermuda grass
• Bluegrass
• Orchard grass
• Red top grass
• Sweet vernal grass
• Timothy grass

By contrast, allergens like ragweed are more commonly seen in summer.

Mold spores are also a common cause of allergies starting in spring and continuing right through autumn. Outdoor molds include Alternaria, Cladosporium, and Hormodendrun.

Diagnosis

Many people don't need a doctor to confirm that the rapid-fire sneezing and watery eyes they experience with the first buds of spring are due to seasonal allergies. And if they do see a physician and explain their symptoms, the doctor might not need to run tests to confirm the diagnosis either.

With that being said, if allergy symptoms are unrelenting despite treatment, you may want to have a doctor check for other causes or contributing factors. This is especially true if you have significant breathing problems.

Severe sufferers may need a referral to an allergist to identify the specific allergens. With this information, an allergist may be able to prescribe allergy shots to temper the immune response.

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Treatment

Medications are typically used to either alleviate the symptoms of seasonal allergies or temper the body's response to airborne allergens.

Among the options:

• Oral antihistamines work by suppressing histamine, a chemical produced by the body that triggers allergy symptoms.
• Nasal decongestants are over-the-counter (OTC) products available in oral, liquid, spray, and nasal drop formulations. They offer short-term relief by causing blood vessels in the nose to shrink.
• Nasal steroid sprays, available in regular- and prescription-strength, work by reducing the swelling and production of mucus in nasal passages.
• Eye drops can be used to treat eye allergy symptoms. Options include short-term OTC drops that contain a topical decongestant or prescription drops that combine an antihistamine with a mast cell inhibitor.

In addition to medications, some turn to neti pots to help irrigate and open blocked nasal passages.

Prevention

While there are few ways to entirely avoid allergens in the spring (or at any time, for that matter), there are precautions you can take to minimize exposure:

• Know your pollen counts. Check your local weather forecast or the National Allergy Bureau website to get daily pollen counts as well as the breakdown of pollen or mold types.
• Stay indoors during high counts. If you must go outdoors, do it later in the day when counts are typically lower.
• Use an air purifier with a HEPA filter. These are designed to remove airborne particles. Keep windows shut and use an air conditioner if needed.
• Close your windows when driving. Shut the vents and either recirculate the interior air or use your air conditioner.
• Vacuum and dust frequently. "Pet-friendly" vacuum cleaners often do the best job of sucking up pollen and other allergens, such as dander.
• Shower before bedtime. The body and hair can collect surprising amounts of pollen whenever outdoors. Also, be sure to wash any clothes you've been wearing as soon as possible.
• Avoid drying clothes outdoors. Pollen can easily settle in the fibers and trigger symptoms when the clothes are put on later.