If you tend to deal with lots of sneezing, itchy eyes and sniffling during the spring months, do you ever wonder why? In most cases, pollen is the main culprit, but there are actually a few other culprits that might be the cause of your spring allergies.

Read on as our AFC Urgent Care TN team explains!

What Is Causing My Spring Allergy Symptoms?

As we said earlier, pollen is the most likely culprit. As trees, grasses, flowers and weeds begin to bloom, they send pollen out to help other plants grow, too. It’s a noble thing that these plants do each year, but it isn’t the most fun for your body to experience.

When you deal with allergy symptoms, it’s because your immune system is identifying any type of allergen as a threat to your health. The immune system will then produce histamines, which cause inflammation of the nose, chest or throat. We’ve listed the most common causes of these pesky symptoms below.

Most Common Spring Allergy Causes

• Tree pollen. This is perhaps the most common cause of spring allergy symptoms, and oftentimes birch, cedar, hickory and walnut trees are to blame.
• Grass pollen. There are lots of different types of grasses out there, but only a small number of grasses can be blamed for causing allergy symptoms. Timothy grass, Bermuda grass and Kentucky Blue Grass are the most common culprits.
• Mold. This is an underrated allergen, as it thrives in damp, moist environments. Spring is generally a wet season, so mold is more prevalent than you might think. Also, like trees, it lies dormant until the weather starts to warm back up.
• Dust mites. These are common indoor allergens, and many are affected by them without even realizing it. Dust mites can be found in many places around the house, like on furniture, carpets and bedding.

What Can I Do to Reduce the Intensity of My Allergy Symptoms?

One of the best things you can do is to limit your exposure to your allergy triggers. For example, if pollen is your main allergy trigger, spend less time outside when the pollen count is high and change clothes and shower as soon as you enter the house.

Antihistamines and other drugs are also available over-the-counter to help you manage your allergy symptoms. Below are some more simple techniques to deal with allergies so you can enjoy the lovely spring weather.

Ways to Reduce Spring Allergy Symptoms

• If you are dealing with lots of congestion, consider rinsing your sinuses with saline solution. This will flush out mucus and allergens from your nose.
• Keep indoor air clean. You can do this by using a dehumidifier and vacuuming regularly. This will reduce the amount of harmful allergens that make their way inside the home. Running your air conditioner also helps.
• Know when to take your allergy medicines. If you typically experience bad allergies around the same time each year, start taking your nose sprays or OTC antihistamines about two weeks before allergy season starts, then keep taking them regularly throughout your allergy season.

Our AFC Urgent Care TN team can provide the allergy relief you need! Don’t hesitate to visit one of our locations today.