As soon as the trees begin to bloom, many people begin experiencing sniffing noses, watery eyes and endless coughing, among other symptoms. It can be hard to deal with allergies, especially when you don’t know your allergy triggers or are confused as to whether it may be COVID-19, or something seasonal.

Some COVID-19 symptoms do overlap with allergy symptoms. For this reason, AFC Urgent Care Danbury East wants you to beat spring allergy season with our guide on navigating the differences between COVID-19 and spring allergies symptoms. Let’s help you get a head start!

Spring Allergy Season Is Already Here

Our changing climate has caused shifts in precipitation patterns, more frost-free days, warmer seasonal air temperatures, and more carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. These changes can affect:

• when the pollen season starts and ends and how long it lasts each year,
• how much pollen plants create and how much is in the air, and
• how pollen affects human health.

You can take extra precaution by checking the daily pollen levels online or on your local weather channel. 

Pollen is the grains or tiny seeds of flowering plants, trees, and grasses. These seeds can be carried on the wind and can cause various symptoms, or none at all, in individuals who are exposed to them.

For people suffering from hay fever, also known as “allergic rhinitis,” breathing in pollen can cause sneezing, congestion, and a runny nose. Pollen exposure can also result in “allergic conjunctivitis” in some individuals, causing red, watery, or itchy eyes.

How to Avoid Allergy Triggers 

If you are allergic to pollen, or if you have asthma, you can take steps to protect yourself:

• Check pollen forecasts on local news and online sources and plan to spend less time outdoors when pollen levels will be high.
• Take your allergy and/or asthma medications as prescribed by your healthcare provider.
• Don’t touch your eyes while you are outside and wash your hands when you go back inside (before you touch your eyes).
• Shower after being outside to remove pollen from your skin and hair.
• Change your clothes after being outdoors.
• Keep windows closed during pollen season.
• Use high-efficiency filters in your home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Make sure your HVAC system can use high-efficiency filters and that they don’t violate the system’s warranty.

Prepare for Asthma Flare Ups, Too!

Spring allergies may trigger asthma flare ups, too. For those of you who suffer from asthma, you might want to keep an extra inhaler around. Having allergies and asthma is a bad combo that could potentially leave you breathless. 

If you need prescription refills or asthma relief, we can treat you here at AFC Urgent Care Danbury!

Find Allergy And Asthma Relief At AFC Urgent Care Danbury East

Enjoying the warm weather should be the main thought this spring season. Yes, we may have some allergy triggers, but AFC Urgent Care Danbury East is here to help. We can help you with Allergies and if you’re a little confused about whether it’s Allergies or COVID-19, we can help clear that confusion. 

We provide COVID-19 antigen and PCR tests. AFC Urgent Care Danbury East is open 7 days a week and we welcome both appointments and walk-ins. Let us help you enjoy this spring season!  Visit us here or at our other 2 Danbury locations, at 2 Main Street or at 100 Mill Plain Road.