Spring into Allergy Season

As the temperatures climb, the call of the outdoors becomes hard to resist—especially after a long winter spent indoors. But for allergy sufferers, spring and summer aren’t always so welcoming. While blooming flowers and lush greenery are a feast for the eyes, they often bring along a wave of sneezing, watery eyes, scratchy throats, and itchy noses. To help you enjoy the season without the sniffles, here are some practical tips to prepare for allergy season.

Talk to a Doctor

If you’ve never been to an allergist before but you are more than positive that you have seasonal allergies, now is a good time to make an appointment. This will ensure that you are getting the right treatment so that you can enjoy spring and summer and not suffer needlessly from high pollen counts.

Begin Treatment

Whether or not you make an appointment with an allergist, starting allergy treatments at least two weeks before you feel your allergy symptoms can be incredibly beneficial. If you do see an allergist, make sure to take the medicine they give you as prescribed. If you decide to take over-the-counter medications, whether in pill form or nasal sprays, make sure to take those as prescribed also.

If you visit an allergist, they may be able to give you more than just medication to manage your symptoms. In some cases, they may put you on a series of shots that will desensitize you to the allergens that trouble you. It may take a few months to feel relief, but this could be a longer term solution for your allergy issues.

Keep Pollen at Bay

Regrettably, you cannot manipulate the pollen levels in the environment, but you can restrict the amount that infiltrates your home. Regular cleaning and vacuuming, coupled with changing your clothes upon returning indoors, can lower the volume of pollen that enters your home and affects your health. This can significantly alleviate the allergy symptoms you experience.

Keep Track of Pollen Counts

Knowing when pollen counts are highest throughout the day can be advantageous in helping you avoid the negative impact it will have on your health. There are a variety of apps that can be downloaded onto your phone to assist in this endeavor. If you have to be out and about during the day, try to plan it around when pollen counts are at their lowest.

Allergies can severely impact one’s daily life, with persistent sneezing and watery eyes making it difficult to function throughout the day. Congestion and sinus headaches can also add to the challenges of completing tasks. The most effective approach is to proactively manage and treat your allergies.

Here at Alliance Direct Benefits, we want to make sure that you feel good during allergy season and throughout the year. When you become a member, you will have 24/7 access to doctors via app or phone call via a national network of doctors that can answer any medical questions you might have. In addition, should the need arise, they can even prescribe allergy medications so you can get back to living. Give us a call at 1-800-733-2242 (M-F, 7am-5:30pm Central Time) or visit us online today!