PIC Current

by Alexis Cala, PICurrent Assistant Producer

Courtesy of Spakattacks

Many of us look forward to spring, a time to enjoy the weather, outdoor activities and fragrant flowers. Yet, for the 35 million Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies, spring time also means the beginning of itchy eyes, scratchy throats, and runny noses.

Seasonal allergies, also known as ‘hay fever’, typically begin in early spring and can persist into the winter months.

When you’re allergic to something, your immune system thinks the substance (allergen) is harmful to your body and tries to get rid of it. Believe it or not, the runny eyes and miserable pressure is your body trying to protect you!

People are allergic to a variety of things, though common seasonal allergens include pollen fro:

• trees
• grass
• weeds
• mold
• pet dander
• dust

While there is no cure for allergies, there are different forms of treatment and ways to avoid getting attacked by allergies.

Reduce your symptoms by steering clear of the things that make you go ‘achoo‘:

• Keep yourself and home pollen free: Remove your shoes before or as soon as you enter the house to keep some pollen from following you inside. Also, keep windows and doors shut at home, and windows up while your in the car. If you know your covered in the stuff, wash your hair and clothes to wash off pollen when you come inside.
• Don’t let damp spaces get you down: Reducing the humidity (moisture) in your home to 50% or less can help reduce your allergy symptoms. You can do this by using a dehumidifier, keeping the temperature around 70 degrees, and cleaning or replacing your air filters regularly.
• Don’t help allergens grow in your home: You can reduce the amount of mold by getting rid of houseplants and frequently airing out and cleaning rooms that become humid or damp (bathrooms, basement, etc.). Use a mix of water and Borax, or other natural cleaners, to kill mold.
• Talk to a doctor or allergist: Allergy tests can help doctors pinpoint what is triggering your reaction and help them recommend the best treatment.

Your allergies may be worse depending on the time of day and where you are, keep this in mind when you’re on the go:

• Watch out for windy days; pollen and mold are easily blown through the air.
• Pollen counts are usually highest in late morning and early afternoon. You can check the pollen levels in your area here.
• Higher temperatures and humidity can raise pollen levels and increase your allergy symptoms. Pollen counts are lowest on cloudy, rainy, windless days.
• Woody and grassy areas are most troublesome.

For more information, please visit:

American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology

USA Today

American Academy of Family Physicians

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