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by Linda Ann Nickerson

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DEALING WITH SPRING ALLERGIES

Who doesn't love springtime? The sun reappears, melting the snow and warming each day in its cheery glow. Days grow longer. Trees begin to sprout buds, and flowers start to poke out of gardens.

Before long, many folks begin sniffling, sneezing and wheezing. Spring has arrived, along with spring allergies.

WHAT CAUSES SPRING ALLERGIES?

Spring allergies may be caused by allergic reactions to many things in the environment. Allergens may arise indoors or outside. The most common offenders for spring allergies are mold, dust and pollen.

Mold may appear wherever excessive moisture is present, and the spring thaw offers an ideal habitat for it. Many people are allergic to molds and fungi. (Some of these individuals also react negatively to mushrooms, which are a form of fungus.) As the snow melts and spring rains soak the landscape, mold can make folks miserable.

Of course, mold allergies may emerge at any time of year, if susceptible individuals encounter mold. Often, damp and dark places (such as basements, garages, forests and even caves) pose allergy hazards to such folks.

Dust allergies also may wreak havoc on particularly sensitive people all year round, whenever they encounter dusty or linty environments. However, as the spring winds pick up and begin to dry out the wet ground, the air may become filled with particles and foreign matter. Breathing dusty air can cause allergic reactions in spring allergy sufferers. Sneezing, coughing, and stuffy heads may result.

In fact, even folks without actual allergies may suffer in dusty conditions.

Pollen allergies peak during the spring months. After the long winter, when leafless trees and the barren ground have yielded no visible foliage or flowers, the spring brings a change. Trees begin to bear leaves and prepare to produce fruit, plants emerge from garden beds, and lawns start to grow grass again. Spring allergy sufferers may react to any or all of these various forms of vegetation.

CAN SPRING ALLERGIES BE PREVENTED?

People with spring allergies can take certain steps to minimize their seasonal impact and suffering.

First, the impact of spring allergies can be minimized, if allergic individuals limit their exposure to mold, dust, pollen or whatever is affecting them. Keeping car and home windows closed during peak times can make a giant difference. Maintaining a dust- and mold-free home, as much as possible, is important too. Air purifying systems and allergen-reduction furnace filters have helped many spring allergy sufferers.

Some spring allergy patients choose to wear surgical-type masks while working in their gardens or pursuing outdoor recreation during high-allergy months.

Several families begin purchasing locally produced honey during the winter. By consuming even a spoonful of local honey daily, in the months leading up to the onset of spring, many individuals believe they acquire immunities to pollen allergies from local vegetation.

HOW CAN SPRING ALLERGIES BE TREATED?

Many over-the-counter allergy medications are readily available. Most such products are histamine blockers, and several also contain decongestant ingredients. Individuals can check with their medical care providers for specific recommendations. In addition, local pharmacists can be extremely helpful in suggesting appropriate products for various forms of spring allergies.

Several allergy medications, which were previously only obtainable with a written prescription, may now be purchased directly from drugstores and grocery shops.

In more severe cases, folks who suffer from severe spring allergies may opt for allergy immunizations. These shots, which are usually administered by physicians, block allergic reactions much more effectively than over-the-counter antihistamine products. Of course, most doctors require patients to undergo a battery of allergy tests before beginning such treatments, so they may determine the exact causes of their spring allergies.

With spring allergies, prompt treatment is essential. A stuffy nose can quickly turn into a full-blown sinus infection, which can be extremely painful. Sinus infections may require antibiotic treatment, which is only available by prescription.

Learn more about this author, Linda Ann Nickerson.

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