This winter wasn’t too cold, right? It’s fair to say that our climate is changing, and because it’s changing, our allergies, or when they happen, may change too. Since we had a warm winter, this spring, the pollen levels may be heavier and longer lasting compared to the previous years. There’s going to be a lot of sneezing, coughing, and watery eyes this spring.

Let’s keep in mind that COVID-19 is still with us, too. There are other illnesses that can cause sneezing and wheezing, too. For this reason, AFC Urgent Care Natick is here to help you prepare for this spring allergy season with a guide on navigating spring allergy season. We’re also here to help clear up any confusion between allergy symptoms and COVID-19. 

What is Pollen And How Is It Related To My Spring Allergies?

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 with 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.

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.

Some of these changes in pollen due to climate change could have major impacts on human health such as increasing individuals’ exposure to pollen and their risk of having allergy and/or asthma symptoms.

How Can I Avoid Spring Allergies And Other 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.

If you want to take extra precaution, you may want to check your tv or the internet for the pollen levels. Checking this on a daily basis can help you take an extra step towards fighting the spring allergies this season. Here are some home remedies that can potentially help you from these bothersome triggers:

• Limiting pollen exposure to limit spring allergies
• Taking medicine early to relieve spring allergies
• Rinsing your nasal passages regularly
• Spring cleaning for your spring allergies
• Natural remedies for spring allergies like vitamin C 

Fight Spring Allergies And Asthma At AFC Urgent Care Natick

You don’t have to wait until you’re miserable this allergy season. It’s better to prepare for the bad spring allergy season by stocking up on allergy medications and inhalers in case you are asthmatic. 

With that being said, AFC Urgent Care Natick can help assist with managing asthma symptoms, prescription refills for inhalers and can treat spring allergies. Before you let the sneezes, sniffles, and congestion turn into something more serious, visit us so you can begin to look forward to the spring season, instead of dreading it. 

We’re open 7 days a week and we’re here to help you!

If you need rapid antigen or rapid molecular testing for COVID-19 you can come and get that done too! No appointment is needed, but they are also welcomed.