Spring has come with beautiful scenery and the positive feelings it brings, but unfortunately, this positive outlook is only seen by some. If you are one of the people suffering from what is known as spring allergy, you will see the beautiful spring from another perspective, and for you, it will be congestion, sneezing, runny nose, and more annoying symptoms.

Do you know what spring allergies are? What are its causes? Do you want some ways to help you deal with spring allergies?

Do you breathe more frequently than usual? Welcome to spring allergy season!

Even if you think that you do not suffer from spring allergies, this phenomenon is on the rise, you must know all the related information and pay attention to these symptoms if you suffer from them.

An Overview of Spring Allergy 

Spring allergies, also known as allergic rhinitis and hay fever, are your body’s reaction when exposed to an external substance, which may enter through the digestive system, breathing, or through touch, stimulating the cells of the immune system to secrete specific substances, such as histamine. These substances, in turn, cause symptoms that may be annoying, such as itching, redness, or nasal congestion.

Spring allergies increase especially on days with light winds in the form of a gentle breeze, as the wind is loaded with pollen (the largest cause of spring allergies and released by trees, grasses, and weeds into the air to fertilize other plants of the same type) to be dispersed in the air and this is what causes allergies. It decreases on rainy days because it reduces the number of pollen grains carried in the air and thus reduces the number of allergens.

In this article, we will learn about the allergens that cause spring allergy symptoms.

Substances that May Cause Spring Allergy

• Trees include elm, myrtle, beech, poplar, box elder, cedar, cypress, cottonwood, juniper, elm, maple, mulberry, oak, olive, palm, pine, willow, and many other plants.
• Harmful and harmless grasses, including orchard grasses, Bermuda grasses, fescue, Johnson grass, June grass, perennial ryegrass, redhead, salt grass, sweet spring grass, and many other types of grass.

Spring Allergy Symptoms

Perhaps you are now wondering, my dear, whether you suffer from spring allergies. Below is a list of the most common symptoms, and then we will explain the best ways to treat and relieve these symptoms. Symptoms include the following:

• Dark circles under the eyes
• Itchy eyes
• Itchy nose
• Itchy ear
• Itchy throat
• Coughing and sneezing
• Watery and red eyes
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Headache
• Shortness of breath (if the allergy becomes severe in some people)
• Whistling

Some or all of these symptoms may appear and differ from one person to another. It has also become known today that spring allergies may be linked to asthma, as allergens stimulate asthma attacks and the condition becomes worse. Although allergy is not a serious disease, it may affect the quality of your life if you suffer from it.

Spring Allergy Diagnosis 

The presence of the previous symptoms is not enough to confirm that you have a spring allergy, as you must visit a doctor to confirm the condition and then receive appropriate treatment.

We will mention to you the most important tests that confirm the presence of your spring allergy:

Prick test

In this test, the doctor injects the skin with a small amount of allergenic substances and sees whether they will cause a reaction in the body. Therefore, it should be noted that these substances cause allergies to this patient, and therefore one must stay away from these substances as much as possible.

Skin test

In this test, the doctor injects a small amount of diluted substances causing the allergy under the skin in the arm or back area. A small red bump will form if you suffer from allergies.

Blood test

A blood test reveals that you have a spring allergy by detecting the amount of antibodies specific to the allergen in your blood.

After we learned about the symptoms of spring allergies and how to diagnose them, in the next paragraph we will learn how to deal with them and alleviate their symptoms.

How to Deal with Spring Allergy Symptoms

Here we will mention a few tips that can help you deal with the symptoms of spring allergies, and reduce your exposure to the allergens that cause them:

• Wear a mask or face mask to protect yourself from pollen when you are outside
• Do not hang the laundry outside the house, as pollen can attach to it, thus triggering allergies when wearing clothes. You can hang it inside the house or use an electric dryer.
• Change your bed linen regularly to ensure that pollen is eliminated, or replace it with hypoallergenic linens.
• Get rid of upholstered furniture
• Get rid of stuffed toys in your home, if you have them
• Take off the clothes you wore outside and take a shower to remove the pollen on your hair and skin.
• Avoid pulling grass, mowing lawns, and other routine gardening tasks that may trigger your spring allergies.
• Try not to leave the house on dry days when there are strong winds.
• Go outside after the rain. The best time to go out is after the rain because it contributes to purifying the air of pollen.
• Avoid exercising or activities outside the home in the early morning hours, because pollen amounts are high at this time.
• Avoid exposure to sunlight
• Close windows and doors at night if you can, as well as any time pollen counts are high, to prevent it from entering.
• If large amounts of pollen are expected, start taking your allergy medications before your symptoms begin.
• Follow TV channels, radio stations, local newspapers, or the Internet to stay informed about forecasts for pollen and its levels in the air.
• Install an air conditioner and use it in your home or car, as it purifies and refreshes the air
• Use high-purification filters if you have a central air conditioning system in your home, and commit to regular maintenance on time.
• Keep the air dry and eliminate high indoor humidity with dehumidifiers
• Clean your floors from time to time using a vacuum cleaner with high-efficiency particulate filters.
• Clean your pets well before bringing them indoors, as their fur may pick up pollen, which causes major spring allergies.
• Ask your family members to take off their shoes before entering the house, to ensure that pollen that causes spring allergies does not enter.

You, my butterfly, must follow the tips and instructions mentioned previously to reduce your exposure to allergens, especially pollens, which contribute greatly to the appearance and exacerbation of your spring allergy symptoms.

Spring Allergy OTC Treatment 

There are many medications that you can use and obtain without a prescription to treat spring allergies and relieve their symptoms, such as decongestants, antihistamines, eye and nasal drops, and sprays containing corticosteroids, including:

Oral decongestants

These medications work to shrink the lining of the respiratory passages and reduce congestion, thus reducing the symptoms of spring allergies and reducing congestion, such as:

• Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), which gives temporary relief from nasal congestion.
• Cetirizine with Pseudoephedrine, a combination antihistamine and decongestant (Zyrtec-D 12 Hour)
• Fexofenadine with pseudoephedrine, a combination antihistamine and decongestant (Allegra-D 12 Hour Allergy and Congestion),
• Loratadine with pseudoephedrine is a combination of antihistamine and decongestant (Claritin-D).

You can share with your doctor the results of your use of these decongestants and whether they were beneficial, and gave you the desired results and alleviated the symptoms of your spring allergy.

Leukotriene antagonists

They are tablets that inhibit the action of some chemicals that cause an immune reaction and lead to spring allergies.

Eye drops

Eye drops are used to treat eye allergies, relieve redness and swelling, and also relieve itching caused by spring allergies, such as Epina antihistamine drops.

Cromolyn sodium nasal spray

Cromolyn nasal spray can relieve the symptoms and severity of spring allergies, as it prevents your immune system from releasing the factors that cause the symptoms. This spray also works best if you start using it before you are exposed to the allergens, and it is considered a very safe treatment, but you may need, my dear, to use it 4 to 6 times a day often.

Various nasal sprays containing corticosteroids

These medications are often in the form of nasal spray, which helps reduce inflammation. They are considered the most effective for getting rid of nasal allergies and reducing the severity of spring allergy symptoms on the nose. These medications include:

• Fluticasone propionate (Flonase Allergy Relief)
• Budesonide (Rhinocort Allergy)
• Triamcinolone

Consult your doctor before using nasal corticosteroid sprays for long periods.

Oral antihistamines

Oral antihistamines may help relieve itching, stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, and tearing from the eyes. These medications are in the form of nasal spray, pills, or drops in the eyes, which help relieve some symptoms. Oral antihistamine medications that you can use include:

Cetirizine (Zyrtec Allergy)
Fexofenadine (Allegra Allergy)
Loratadine (Claritin, Alavert).
Some medications may have side effects that may bother you, such as drowsiness, dizziness, and confusion.

Washing the sinuses

Washing your sinuses is one of the quick, effective, and inexpensive ways to relieve nasal congestion. It is as follows: Wash your nasal passages with a saline solution, as rinsing helps you get rid of mucus and allergens such as pollen directly by removing them from the nose.

Where do I get the saline solution??

- You can make a saline solution at home by mixing water with salt in certain proportions. Homemade solutions consist of 1 liter of water + one and a half teaspoons of pure salt and a teaspoon of baking soda.

The saline solution can be purchased ready-made or in the form of a powder added to water.

We advise you to use bottled water, whether you use a saline solution prepared at home or a ready-made powder, to reduce the chances of infection.

Wash the tool you use to wash your nose after each use with clean water and leave it uncovered to air dry.

Steam inhalation

Inhaling steam can help you soothe and open your nasal passages, and also help you remove thick mucus stuck in your nose.

Natural spring allergy treatment

You can use many natural treatments to treat the symptoms of spring allergies or reduce their severity. These treatments include:

• Qabaa shrub extracts
• Extracts of spirulina, a type of dried algae
• Curatein is a flavonoid that gives fruits and vegetables their color
• Friendly bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus) found in milk
• Vitamin C, which has antioxidant and antihistamine properties
• Acupuncture

To ensure your safety, my butterfly; Consult your doctor before trying any type of natural alternative treatments.

Spring Allergy Treatment with a Doctor

When do you go to the doctor if you suffer from spring allergies?

For many people, avoiding factors that trigger spring allergies, as well as taking medications without a prescription, may be beneficial, but if home remedies and over-the-counter medications do not work for you, and the symptoms continue to bother you, then you should consult a doctor.

Don't give up, my butterfly, many other treatments can comfort you and relieve your symptoms.

If you go to the doctor, he will ask you to undergo several examinations and tests related to the skin and blood, to discover specifically which allergens are causing your spring allergy symptoms. The tests will also help you determine the plan that you must follow to relieve the symptoms and determine the appropriate medications to treat your condition.

Vaccine against allergies

This treatment is also known as desensitization therapy. Allergy injections are immunotherapy for allergens that cause allergies and are a good option for many patients. This treatment includes giving regular injections containing small amounts of the allergens. Over time, these injections work to reduce the response of the immune system to the allergens that cause these symptoms.

Sublingual Tablets

This treatment is used in some types of allergies. It consists of tablets that are placed under the tongue, and medications are prescribed under the supervision of a doctor.

Spring Allergy Beginning and End

If you suffer from spring allergies, there will be times when you ask yourself, when will spring allergies end?

Unfortunately, there is no specific time for the end of spring allergies. They come with the beginning of spring, which is approximately in March (the season of pollen and tree pollen), and spring continues until summer approaches.

The end of spring allergy is linked to several important factors, such as:

• Different and varied weather conditions from one region to another and from year to year
• Daily weather and the content of a certain number of pollen grains on certain days
• Warm weather
• High humidity
• Early morning hours may lead to increased allergies and increased pollen counts
• Rainy days reduce these allergens

How to Differentiate Between a Spring Allergy and an Allergy Caused by a Virus

Differentiating between a spring allergy and an allergy caused by a virus is not easy, because its symptoms are similar to the symptoms of a cold, but in general, there are some ideas through which we can infer which spring allergy is different from others:

• Spring allergies come at specific times of the year and worsen in the spring season
• Colds come more often in winter than in spring
• Spring allergies do not cause hyperthermia
• Spring allergies do not cause fatigue, body aches, or a wet cough.

At the end of our article, we hope, my dear, that you have benefited, enriched your information, and learned more about spring allergies, and that they occur due to an error in the immune system, which recognizes allergens such as pollen as dangerous substances, attacks them, and secretes chemicals that lead to unpleasant symptoms for you. You have seen ways to treat it at home without a prescription, such as decongestants, eye and nasal drops, and sprays containing corticosteroids, and when to consult a doctor and undergo the necessary tests.

A Word from Farashti to You

Spring allergies can make you miserable and make you resort to plastic flowers and artificial grass, but before you do that, try these simple, proven strategies and plans mentioned in our article, so that your spring allergy symptoms remain under control.

Do not feel sad, you are not alone. Every four people in the world suffer from spring allergies. Join them and defeat spring allergies and adapt to their symptoms.

For more important and beneficial scientific articles for health that every woman from all over the world is interested in, follow Farashti magazine and Sarah’s Pop Fit website. To watch the exercises and how to perform them, follow international trainer Sarah Pop Fit's YouTube channel.

Frequently Asked Questions about Spring Allergy

When do spring allergies start and when do they end?

There is no specific time for the end of spring allergies. They come with the beginning of spring, which is approximately in March (the season of pollen and tree pollen), and spring continues until summer approaches.

Why does the immune system attack pollen in spring allergies?

Because the immune system mistakenly sees these pollen as a danger to the body and releases antibodies that attack the pollen that causes spring allergies.

What trees can cause spring allergies?

Trees, such as: elm, myrtle, beech, poplar, box elder, cedar, cypress, cottonwood, juniper, elm, maple, mulberry, oak, olive, palm, pine, willow, and many other plants.

What herbs can cause spring allergies?

Herbs that are harmful and harmless, such as orchard grasses, Bermuda grasses, fescue, Johnson grass, June grass, perennial ryegrass, redhead, salt grass, sweet spring grass, and many other herbs.

What are the symptoms of spring allergies?

Dark circles under the eyes, itchy eyes, itchy nose, coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, and runny nose

How do we overcome spring allergies and a cold?

Spring allergies come at specific times of the year and are worse in the spring season, while colds occur more often in the winter than in the spring, and spring allergies do not cause fever and do not cause fatigue, body aches, or a wet cough.

How do I make a saline solution that helps treat spring allergies?

You can make a saline solution at home by mixing water with salt in certain proportions (homemade solutions consist of 1 liter of water + one and a half teaspoons of pure salt and a teaspoon of baking soda). The saline solution can also be purchased ready-made or in powder form to be added to the water.

When should I consult a doctor if I have spring allergies?

For many people, avoiding factors that trigger spring allergies, as well as taking medications without a prescription, may be beneficial, but if home remedies and over-the-counter medications do not work for you, and the symptoms continue to bother you, then you should consult a doctor.

What is the treatment for spring allergies at home?

Decongestants, eye and nasal drops, antihistamines, cromolyn sodium spray, corticosteroid sprays, nasal irrigation with saline, and inhalation of vapors

Written by: Haidy Soliman

Translated by: Ph. Marah Mohamad

Sources:

ZYRTIC

Health line

Mayo clinic