Seasonal allergies are things that so many people struggle with each year. They can come on strong, and they can be hard to shake.

Many people deal with them for years and years and just accept it. While that is OK, we believe it’s important to know what typically causes seasonal allergies and what you can do to combat them so they don’t interfere with your daily life in a significant way.

Read on as our AFC Urgent Care Chattanooga shares further helpful info on seasonal allergies.

What Causes Seasonal Allergies?

Seasonal allergies occur when the immune system encounters something in the air that it identifies as a threat. It then produces antibodies to defend your body, which causes things like nasal, throat and chest inflammation or congestion.

Pollen is the most common cause of seasonal allergies. It’s lightweight and dry, so it can travel long distances to cause allergy symptoms for an extended period of time. A high pollen count means you’re much more likely to have worse allergy symptoms, so if pollen is the culprit of the symptoms that we’ve listed below, make an effort to spend more time indoors.

Common Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

• Itchy, watery or red eyes
• Circles under eyes
• Itchy mouth, nose or throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Drainage from the nose down the back of the throat (postnasal drip)
• Temporary loss of smell
• Headache
• Sneezing

Can I Prevent Seasonal Allergies?

If allergies affect you every year around the same time, it can be quite difficult to totally prevent them. However, one prevention tactic that can be quite effective is to find an OTC antihistamine or nose spray that works to lessen your symptoms and start taking it at least two weeks before your allergy season starts. Then, continue taking it during the course of your allergy season.

If you can’t totally prevent your seasonal allergy symptoms from coming on, we’ve listed a few ways you can reduce their severity below.

Ways to Reduce Allergy Symptoms

• 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.
• After spending time outside, remove your clothes and shower to rinse pollen from your skin and hair.
• 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.

Need allergy relief? We can help! Don’t hesitate to stop by our AFC Urgent Care Chattanooga center today.