3 Great Ways to Prepare for Spring Allergy Season

Sure, you look forward to spring’s warmer temperatures and are not sorry to see another cold Midwest winter pass, but spring allergies cast a shadow over your excitement.

You’re certainly not alone — between 15% and 30% of Americans have seasonal rhinitis or hay fever. And nearly 28 million Americans have asthma, which is often triggered by the allergens that come with spring.

The good news is that there are some great strategies for weathering spring allergies and allergic asthma and the team at Michigan Avenue Primary Care shares some of them here.

So, if you want to enjoy the longer days and warmer temperatures of spring instead of sneezing and wheezing your way through it, read on.

1. Get your spring allergy toolkit in order

There is no cure for seasonal allergic rhinitis, but there are many tools available to help you manage the symptoms.

Before spring gets into full swing, it’s a good idea to come in and see one of our allergy specialists to ensure you have what you need for your hay fever. Some common tools include:

• Oral antihistamines
• Corticosteroid nasal sprays
• Decongestants
• Eye drops
• Sinus rinses

During your visit, we can determine which tools would best suit your seasonal allergy needs, ensuring that you have a solid arsenal for weathering spring.

2. Reduce your exposure

Most of us have smartphone weather apps that provide invaluable information about managing spring allergies, such as pollen count and wind.

The primary culprit behind seasonal spring hay fever is pollen, so it’s a good idea to follow pollen counts and limit your time outdoors on those days when counts are high. This is especially true on windy days, which can whip up the pollen and send it flying.

3. Keep your home free of pollen

There’s little that you can do about the pollen flying around in the air outside, but you can minimize it inside your house by:

• Installing an HEPA air filter in your vacuum
• Using an air filter in your house, especially in your bedroom
• Replacing filters on your AC and heating units
• Closing windows, especially on windy days
• Shedding outdoor clothes in the laundry room
• Wiping down pets before they come in
• Not drying laundry outside

If you’re working outside, such as mowing your lawn, a face mask can help keep pollen from entering your airways.

If you spend a little time prepping your home front, tracking pollen, and making sure you have what you need to relieve hay fever symptoms, you might even begin to enjoy the spring season again.

To make sure that you’re prepared for seasonal allergies this spring, please feel free to contact us at our Chicago, Illinois, clinic, which is located in The Loop, to schedule a preventive care visit. You can also visit our urgent care center during operating hours, M-F, 8 am to 4 pm.