Spring Is Here, and So Are Allergies
One of the aspects I enjoy about not having a traditional desk job is the opportunity to be outside and relish the seasons as they change. Telltale signs that spring is here—empty roller coasters being tested at Hershey Park, the mulched lawns, the yellow daffodils, yellow forsythia bushes, and the cherry trees blooming—say spring is here. And so are allergies. What out allergy sufferers!
Central Pennsylvania may not have the annual tradition of observing the most extensive collection of cherry blossom trees overlooking the shores of the tidal basin in Washington, D. C.. Still, like all the other small USA towns, we do enjoy the blossoms that are sprouting all around us, even if they are budding all at once.
Now that spring is here; the latest overused weather term is pollen vortex. Remember the weather pattern called the polar vortex last winter? The extended, brutal winter is wreaking havoc on allergy sufferers. Why? The extended cold weather delayed the gradual blooming of trees this springtime, causing the tree pollen count to be extremely high.
Every morning, my car reminds me that spring is here, with the green powder (pollen) covering the entire vehicle. In addition, their other signs lead to spring with many different trees blooming all at once, primarily birch and oak trees, causing coughing, wheezing, sneezing, snorting, and itching. Outdoor allergy triggers include tree pollen, weed pollen, grass pollen, and mold spores. The tree pollen count is currently high, with mold and grass following right behind in second and third place. What’s an allergy sufferer to do now that spring is here?
Natural Remedies to combat high pollen counts:
1. Keep car windows and windows at home closed
2. Saline nasal spray
3. NetiPot
4. Shower before bed to rinse pollen out of hair
Prescription Medications options to consider:
- Oralair (new prescription medication for grass pollen allergies)
- Montelukast (Singulair)
- Immunotherapy
- Steroids
- Antihistamines
Now that spring is here, I hope allergy sufferers can nip spring allergies in the bud using the natural remedy recommendations. If necessary, relief is available with prescription options. One can also check the allergy sufferers’ website.