Ah, spring — birds chirping, flowers blooming, sun shining, and — sneezing, sniffling, and more uncomfortable symptoms? Unfortunately, they do co-exist.
The good news is that you can take easy steps to curb allergy anguish that actually work!
The compassionate team at Allergy and Asthma Clinic of Central Texas is enthusiastic about caring for you so you don’t have to suffer with allergy symptoms here in Austin, Texas, a major locus for allergies!
We’re invested not only in caring for you, but also in providing education on self-care so you can enjoy life — consistently — without the burden of allergy discomfort weighing you down.
Just as spring arrives and you get excited about spending time outside pursuing your passions, whatever they include: gardening, hiking, picnicking, taking a stroll around the neighborhood, or some other activity. Sadly, every one of these can be hijacked by allergies.
In 2021, more than 80 million people in the United States reported they suffered from seasonal allergies, and the numbers keep rising.
How can you enjoy life if you battling these?
Spring allergies are most often a reaction to pollen from trees and grass, and the Austin area, unfortunately, seems to be the unenviable epicenter for spring allergy misery.
The name of the game for staying comfortable when it comes to aggravating allergy symptoms is to identify your triggers and vanquish them. Here are tips to help you do that:
During allergy season, check the pollen count daily. If it’s going to be super high, you can take precautions like staying inside. Lower levels mean you probably can venture outdoors.
Even the time of day can make a difference — pollen counts tend to rise during the middle of the day, so if you want to get outside, consider venturing out in the early morning, late afternoon, or evening.
If you’ve been outside during peak allergy season, don’t bring the pollen inside and let it fly around and exacerbate your symptoms. Instead:
Another thing not to forget: Despite warmer temps, keep your windows closed so pollen doesn’t waft inside. Instead, make good use of your HVAC system, which can clear your indoor air of pollen.
Keep yours well-maintained so you can be as comfortable as possible. This means frequently replacing your HVAC filters so you can breathe easy and escape sneezing and sniffles.
Your doctor probably has told you to protect your eyes from the sun’s rays with sunglasses when outside. We’re here to second that, for a different reason.
Sunglasses can protect your eyes from the seemingly unrelenting onslaught of spring pollen.
If you’re plagued by spring allergies, outsource tasks like mowing and weeding to other family members, a neighborhood teen looking to earn some extra money, or a professional landscaper. You don’t need that intense pollen exposure!
This might seem elementary, but during high allergy season, it’s critical to consistently take your allergy medication. Missing doses or neglecting to take it sets you up for enduring unwanted symptoms that can really put a dent in your enjoyment of life.
By giving pollen a one-two punch by removing it from your environment every chance you get and taking your allergy medication, you can truly change your daily quality of life for the better. When you follow these steps, you can say goodbye to allergy angst and enjoy life like everyone else — even in the spring!
Keep on top of your allergies by calling Asthma and Allergy Clinic of Central Texas or booking an appointment online. We have offices in Round Rock, Killeen, and Georgetown, Texas.
