Hello, spring! Who is ready for the warmer weather? We all are!

However, before you head outdoors, our team at AFC Urgent Care Sevierville wants you to know what you can do to help protect yourself from seasonal allergies this spring.

What Is the Biggest Allergy Trigger in the Spring?

Pollen is going to be your worst enemy this spring. Between the trees, grasses, flowers and weeds all in bloom, the pollen particles are everywhere.

As a result, if your allergy trigger is pollen, spring can be a hard time of year on your body. Your symptoms will continue as long as you’re exposed to your allergen.

Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

• Pain in the ear
• Congestion
• Loss of smell
• Sneezing
• Puffy eyes
• Itchiness
• Coughing
• Fatigue

What Is the Best Way to Treat Seasonal Allergies?

The key to preventing seasonal allergies, especially during the spring season, is to make sure you are staying away from your triggers. While there are allergy medications like Zyrtec and Claritin that can help you with the symptoms of seasonal allergies, there are also other steps you can take.

While it might be tempting to open the windows, doing so—particularly on windy days—can cause pollen to enter your home, which makes your home a trigger for your allergy symptoms. Therefore, check the pollen count for the day, and on high pollen-count days, you might want to keep your windows closed and limit your time outdoors.

Fun Things to Do Indoors on High Pollen Count Days

• Get crafty.
• Read a book.
• Tackle an indoor do-it-yourself project.
• Conquer a jigsaw puzzle.
• Have a healthy picnic on the carpet.
• Build a fort with the kiddos.

Are you feeling under the weather? Schedule an AFC TeleCare appointment with AFC Urgent Care Sevierville today.