5 Tips for Seasonal Allergy Relief

My allergist compares seasonal allergies to trying to stop a car that is rolling downhill, without brakes. Once the symptoms begin to get out of control, stopping them is often impossible. This is because your body has already started reacting to the allergen – triggering the symptoms.

With a son who suffers terribly from spring allergies, we’ve worked with our allergist to prevent the allergies from getting out of control. While he isn’t symptom free, we’ve noticed a huge difference when follow the steps below:

Here are 5 Tips for Seasonal Allergy Relief that you should begin doing BEFORE symptoms become full-blown.

1. Resist the urge to to let in that spring air.

We keep our windows shut. It’s so tempting on those beautiful spring days to just open all the windows and feel the breeze. But, when we do, my son almost always flares up. Not to mention how much pollen you are letting in. Use air conditioners if needed and invest in a good Air Purifier. We have a few of them in each of the bedrooms to help purify the air.

2. There’s an app for that.

Download a reliable app for your area to help you note when the pollen counts are high. Some will even tell you which types of pollen are high on a certain day. Since we know my son is particularly sensitive to oak and grass – we can make decisions to go the playground or not based on if pollen counts are high, medium or low.

3. Don’t wait for symptoms to start allergy medications.

Always speak to your doctor or allergist, but don’t want until symptoms are full-blown. The medications, over the counter or prescription can be more effective when taken regularly to stop your symptoms from taking over.

4. More Cleaning

When you get home from being outside on high pollen days, wash clothing and take a shower. We have my son get in the shower and change his clothes when he comes in from playing. It cuts down on pollen in his hair and clothes and reduces what he brings and spreads throughout the home.

Also keep your nasal passages clean with saline spray or a neti pot. Your nose catches pollen and a day outside can leave you having symptoms into the night from residual pollen. Do the same for your eyes with a gentle, non-medicated eye drop.

5. Pollen in Unsuspecting Places

Wash bedding in hot water every few days to prevent any build-up. You can also try parking your car in the garage or getting it washed more often during the high pollen season. For us, when I start seeing that thick yellow dust, I always try to park the car. It can cut down on the build-up on your car and what gets inside the car. Finally, as much as you may not want to clean more, try to dust and vac rugs (especially entry way rugs) more often.