Blooming trees and flowers paint a beautiful picture during the spring months. Watching the world wake back up after a long, winter slumber is an amazing thing to behold. Unfortunately, though, April and May come with their own problems for many.

Millions of Americans suffer from allergy symptoms each spring, but why? Our AFC Urgent Care Hixson team elaborates below, so read on.

Why Do I Struggle With Allergies in the Spring?

Pollen is the most common culprit. As trees, flowers, grass and weeds begin to grow, they pollinate other plants. Since pollen is so tiny and light, it can be spread for miles and miles, which makes it tough to avoid when spending time outdoors.

When you breathe pollen in, the immune system overreacts and identifies it as a threat, which it’s not. Your immune system then produces histamines, which cause the seasonal allergy symptoms that we’ve listed below.

Common Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

• Itchy, watery or red eyes
• Circles under eyes
• Itchy mouth, nose or throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Drainage from the nose down the back of the throat (postnasal drip)
• Temporary loss of smell
• Headache
• Sneezing

Is It Possible to Prevent Seasonal Allergies?

Don’t count on it. If allergies occur each year around the same time, it is very unlikely that you will totally be able to avoid them. However, finding an OTC antihistamine or nose spray that works to relieve your symptoms and starting to use it at least two weeks before allergy season begins can be quite useful. Then, throughout your allergy season, continue to take it.

If you can’t completely avoid seasonal allergy symptoms, there are a few things you can do to lessen their severity, which we’ve listed below.

Ways to Reduce Allergy Symptoms

• Keep indoor air clean. You can do this by using a dehumidifier and vacuuming regularly. This will reduce the amount of harmful allergens that make their way inside the home.
• After spending time outside, remove your clothes and shower to rinse pollen from your skin and hair.
• If you are dealing with lots of congestion, consider rinsing your sinuses with saline solution. This will flush out mucus and allergens from your nose.

We’re here for you now and always! Don’t hesitate to visit our AFC team today if you need some allergy relief.