Hello Summer, Hello Summer Allergies

If you live in Connecticut, you know how long and chilly those winters can be. For many of us, spring and summertime offer a warm welcome to better weather and more time spent outside. However, for those who suffer from allergies, spring and summer mean it is time to say hello to allergy season and those irritating symptoms.

Seasonal allergies can have a big impact on your quality of life during this time of year and may keep you from wanting to be outside. Since the last thing you want to be is stuck inside during nice weather, it is important to take steps to avoid allergies in order to have fewer symptoms and a decreased need for medications.

What are Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies?

You may be wondering what symptoms to look out for in order to know if you have seasonal allergies. Symptoms may include:

• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Post nasal drip
• Stuffy nose
• Itchy eyes
• Sinus pressure

All of these symptoms are signs of seasonal allergies and can have an effect on spending quality time outside and enjoying the activities you love the most.

Triggers
So what causes these aggravating symptoms? There are many potential outdoor triggers for allergy sufferers, which may include pollens from:

• Trees
• Grasses
• Weeds

You may also be susceptible to allergy symptoms inside from:

• Dust mites

Pollen Avoidance
Taking steps to avoid allergy triggers is key to lessening your symptoms and having a better quality of life. For pollen avoidance, there are many things you can do to help your cause, such as:

1. Taking a shower every night after returning indoors for the last time that day in order to wash the pollen off the skin and hair. It is important to always change clothes after you shower.
2. Wearing sunglasses while outdoors to block pollen from entering your eyes
3. Keeping the windows closed in your home and the car to block pollen from entering
4. Using air conditioner to filter the air in your home

Don’t let this time of year get to you. If these methods of decreasing your symptoms are not working, it is important to seek additional help so you can beat the irritating effects of allergy season. Consult the allergy specialists at Advanced Specialty Care in order to learn how to control your allergies and talk about other therapeutic options, such as allergy shots and needle-free allergy drops. We have offices in Ridgefield, Danbury, New Milford, and Norwalk in Fairfield County, CT.

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