Plagued by Spring Allergies? 5 Tips for Relief

The snow’s melting, the crocuses are pushing their heads through the soil. The air is clean and fresh. And soon, it’ll be full of pollen. You love spring, but you hate spring allergies. Don’t worry: We have five tips to give you relief.

About one out of every four women or men in the United States has a seasonal allergy. So if you sneeze in spring, you’ll never sneeze alone.

But plenty of company’s small comfort when you’re in the middle of a miserable allergy attack. If you’re allergic to pollen, spending time in the great outdoors can feel like a prison sentence. How can you enjoy the beauty of spring when your eyes are red and your nose is runny?

Charles Ripp, MD, Fran Gorman, DNP, and our team at Gorman Medical, PC want you and your family to enjoy the crisp beauty of spring days, without suffering allergy symptoms. We offer allergy and asthma care at our offices in Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek, Colorado.

How can you get relief from your allergies this spring? Follow these five tips.

1. Ban the outdoors from your home

The first step you should take to ensure that you have as few allergy attacks as possible is to make sure that pollen stays outdoors, where it belongs, and isn’t tracked into your home. Keep your windows closed. Be sure to close doors after you use them, too.

Run your air conditioning 24/7 so that any pollen that drifts in gets filtered out. If possible, install air purifiers with HEPA filters in every room.

Pull up carpets and throw out throw rugs, which could collect any pollen that is blown or tracked inside. Also remove drapes and curtains, which can also harbor pollen and dust motes. If you must keep them, wash them frequently.

2. Protect yourself before you leave

Wear protective outerwear so that your clothes don’t collect pollen. Before you leave home, put on:

A hat
Sunglasses
Light jacket or removable shirt
Long pants or skirts

When you come home, leave the outerwear — including shoes — on a porch, mudroom, or a closet that’s near the door.

3. Wash and vacuum frequently

Wash everything. Your bedding. Yourself. When you come home after time outdoors, take a shower and wash your hair.

Wash your bedding every week, including coverlets and pillows. Vacuum upholstery regularly. Also vacuum your floors, rather than sweeping. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter and change it regularly.

4. Plan ahead

Check the pollen count every day so that you know how to plan your activities. If you see that the pollen is high, or if you know you have to spend a lot of time outdoors, take your allergy medications preemptively before you leave the house or are exposed to pollen.

The pollen count tends to be lowest in the morning, specifically between 4am and noon. Pollen increases after that point, reaching its peak between 2pm and 9pm.

If you must be outdoors when pollen counts are high, consider using a mask to block the pollen from your airways. Be sure to discard the mask right before you go indoors, or shortly afterward, to avoid bringing the pollen indoors.

5. Find effective allergy medications

If over-the-counter (OTC) medications haven’t helped you control your allergy symptoms, let us know. We may be able to prescribe stronger medications to keep you comfortable all season long. Or, if your allergies are severe, we may refer you to an allergist for allergy testing and immunotherapy.

Enjoy your spring by getting your allergies under control. Call our nearest office or use the online booking form for help with allergies today.