Our team at AFC Urgent Care Hixson understands how much the pollen in spring can spark up an asthma attack at the sniff of outdoor air. Fortunately, there are ways to help minimize triggers so that you’ll be able to enjoy a beautiful spring season!

Don’t Fear Spring Allergens

Sneezing, runny nose, itchy nose or throat, watery eyes, wheezing, coughing, and difficulty breathing—oh my! These are just some of the symptoms associated with spring allergies, which can make you feel like you’re fighting off a horrible virus when really you’re just being taken over by pollen.

These allergy symptoms are even more troublesome in people who suffer from asthma, as the pollen can aggravate their asthma in a way that inflames their airways. Fortunately, there are ways to help keep spring allergies and asthma under control.

First, make sure you have all your asthma medications with you at all times. If needed, refill your asthma medications, and always ensure you have a back-up inhaler in case of emergencies. If you have been prescribed a daily, preventive asthma medication, it’s vitally important that you take it daily. This will help ensure you need to use your as-needed inhaler less frequently.

Second, take allergy medications recommended by your physician, or even obtain an allergy shot. Both can help to reduce your risk of suffering from allergies as well as reduce the symptoms associated with spring allergies (such as sneezing, coughing and sinus drainage) associated with asthma irritation.

Finally, try to avoid going outdoors during the high pollen hours—between 5 and 10 a.m.— as much as possible. Therefore, if you’re a morning person and want to get your workout in first thing in the morning, but you suffer from bad allergies and asthma, it might be best to take your exercise routine indoors.

Also, it can be beneficial to shower at night or as soon as you are home for the day. Because pollen can collect throughout the day on your hair, clothes and skin, you carry that pollen into your home with you. Showering and changing clothes as soon as you arrive home helps keep that pollen outside the home.

If you’re dealing with asthma symptoms more than usual this time of year, visit AFC Urgent Care Hixsonfor a new treatment plan that’ll help get you back to feeling like yourself again.