Blog Post

As the warm days of spring start to set in, the days grow longer, flowers blossom, and outdoor activities ramp up. For many people, it also means allergy season. What should be a pleasant time of year can become miserable if you deal with hay fever, or allergic rhinitis.

For ways to stop allergies from ruining the spring, turn to our medical team at Houston Medical ER in Houston and Spring, Texas. If this time of year brings moderate to severe symptoms in the air, we can help you get seasonal allergies under control. 

To explore how you can breathe easier this spring, let’s review the triggers that often cause allergic reactions, what signs come with them, and how you can reduce their impact on your life.

Common allergy triggers in spring weather

The exact timeframe for when your allergies kick in depends on your triggers, but starting or peaking in March, the following allergens (substances that cause allergic reactions) are most likely to make your spring days more difficult:

• Tree pollen, such as oak, birch, cedar, alder, horse chestnut, willow, poplar
• Grass pollen
• Mold spores from decaying leaves and other natural organic materials
• Oral allergy syndrome, when your body mistakes some fruits and vegetables for pollen

Birch pollen is common across much of the country, but in parts of Texas, cedar is also a major problem through early spring, leading to bouts of what is called cedar fever. The weather determines when pollen production begins.

Symptoms to look for

Often, it’s easy to mistake the signs of an allergic reaction in the form of allergic rhinitis with other upper respiratory illnesses like the cold or the flu, which have similar signs like nasal congestion, coughing, sore throat, and fatigue. 

But allergic reactions are also more likely to include itchy, red, watery eyes and are less likely to cause muscle aches, pain, and fever.

The stronger your body’s response is to an allergen, the more severe the symptoms. Allergies can also cause reactions affecting your skin and breathing, leading to skin irritation, redness, and itchiness, as well as breathing problems such as wheezing and coughing. In fact, spring allergies can worsen asthma.

Management and prevention

To reduce the incidence of allergic reactions, avoid triggers common in spring by:

• Staying indoors whenever possible
• Wearing a face mask when you do go outside
• Avoiding hanging clothes outside to dry
• Removing and washing clothes you wear outside

Also, have a family member who doesn’t suffer from spring allergies handle outdoor chores, such as lawn mowing, gardening, and pulling weeds, or hire someone to help with these tasks.

It’s equally important to monitor pollen activity, so check the forecast for information on when counts are particularly high. At these times, close doors and windows. 

Other preventive measures include using dehumidifiers, portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, and air conditioning. 

Controlling your exposure to triggers helps a great deal in reducing symptom severity, as does cleaning areas where allergens collect. 

For more tips and other methods to help stay allergy-free this spring, contact our team at Houston Medical ER. And if you have a severe reaction, we’re here to help with your urgent or emergency care.