The days are getting warmer, we’ll get into the 70s tomorrow, and with spring and spending more time outside comes those spring allergies!

The first batch will come from pollen in the trees, and in a few weeks, it’ll be grass pollen – and before your eyes start to itch, there’s a few things to do to prepare yourself.

If you have an allergist, or have always wanted to get one, book an appointment now. An allergy test will tell you what you’re allergic to and can help you learn whether or not it’s pollen that affects you, or if it’s something else like mold or dust.

Refill prescriptions that ran out last year. And you might want to take your antihistamines sooner rather than later – some medications need to be taken two weeks before allergies flare up.

Spring cleaning will help clean out the allergens like dust or other pollens that got tracked in from outside. And when cleaning, it’s another reason why the N95 mask will help so you don’t breathe that dust in.

It’s been dry lately, but rain and humidity will increase mold, so look out for that too. And check your air filter on the furnace, A/C and air purifier.

If pollen counts are high, keep your windows closed. While a fresh breeze is nice, it’s better for your allergies to use an indoor fan or A/C.

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We’re in April now, and the weather is eventually going to get warmer – but with the spring brings allergies. And this allergy season may be more stressful than ever. Not because our allergies will be worse than other years, but because we’re worried about being judged for sneezing or coughing in public!

A year into the pandemic and having to cough or sneeze makes 56% of us feel like we’re being judged.

The number one thing we think of when coughing or sneezing publicly is “Great, now people think I’m sick!”

The survey found that 55% feel even a slight amount of panic when the urge to sneeze comes upon us. And 46% of us are already dreading allergy season because of the pandemic.

However, we should all remember these are all involuntary responses that our bodies have to allergens like pollen, along with nasal congestion or itchy, watery eyes. To stop those allergy symptoms from affecting you all season long, and to help you feel more ease in public, try to find an allergy relief option that works best for you.

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