Springtime is here. With it comes beautiful spring foliage, fresh grass and pollen, all which can be triggers for seasonal allergies and asthma. Spring is peak season for allergy and asthma. It’s no wonder the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America considers May Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month.

Asthma is often triggered by environmental allergies, which are themselves triggered by environmental elements such as grass and pollen. The cycles trigger a domino effect of allergy and asthma attack. Seasonal allergy symptoms include itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing and runny nose. Sometimes, people confuse these symptoms with a common cold and never visit a physician for treatment. Many people have no idea frequent colds are considered a sign of allergies.

If you or someone you know are experiencing these symptoms throughout the peak allergy seasons, visiting a physician for proper diagnosis will result in a more powerful, longer-lasting treatment tailored to the cause of your symptoms. Proper treatment is especially imperative if a person has asthma triggered by allergies.

In addition to medicinal treatment, your doctor will make you aware of ways to reduce allergens in your daily environment. The American Lung Association offers some great tips on their blog on how to reduce spring allergy triggers such as taking your medication as prescribed; checking the outdoor air quality every single day; wearing a particle mask while performing yard work and doing gardening during early evening and morning hours when the pollen count is low. You can read more on the American Lung Association’s seasonal allergy recommendations by clicking here.

A few other ways to fight allergies include:

• Closing windows and screened doors during breezy days when the pollen count is high to reduce allergens from getting inside your home.
• Washing your hands each time you come indoors.
• Showering at night to wash away allergens.
• Showering and changing clothes after spending long periods of time outdoors, especially after yard work or gardening.
• Keep your home clean using cleaning supplies made of natural ingredients and using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter.

If you or a family member are experiencing allergy symptoms and you have not sought treatment from a physician, contact Elite Care to schedule an appointment as soon as possible.