All ‘Game of Thrones’ lovers are familiar with the phrase ‘winter is coming’, coined by this popular show to express that danger is lurking around the corner. This is what those who suffer from seasonal allergies may be thinking about these days, but replacing the winter cold with green prairies. With the arrival of spring, many people get trapped in a loop of symptoms that make their lives miserable. Stocking up on tissues becomes the new black when flowers blossom, the sun shines vividly and temperatures rise, announcing that summer is on the horizon.
We all know somebody who’s going to spend the next few weeks, if not months, rubbing his or her itchy, watery eyes, sniffling and having breathing problems. Don’t bring up the wonders of spring in front of them, because these people may not want to hear a bit about it. Sneezing turns into the ‘national sport’ for such individuals, who sometimes end up begging for some relief. Indeed, only those who cope with seasonal allergies can tell how much of a ‘via crucis’ the beautiful spring can be and who their common enemy is: pollen is the usual suspect and, generally, the one to blame as this is the time of the year when its concentration peaks (with different levels of impact depending on the region of the planet).
In the US, for example, experts have been forecasting a severe allergy season resulting from the mild winter weather, the early warm temperatures and the heavy rains caused by the presence of ‘El Niño’ phenomenon. The effects are already striking the southeastern states, especially Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Virgina, South and North Carolina, where the concentration of allergens has been the highest in the last few years. The same thing has been happening in other parts of the country, like Arizona, where early full blooms have been causing ‘trouble’ since February.
Don’t sit idly
As pointed out already, spring can be rough if you are an allergy sufferer, yet you can keep the lid on the symptoms by taking some action. Allergy shots work out efficiently as a preventive immunotherapy treatment, but if you are already late to get those, you need to combat your discomfort with the right tools. Keep antihistamines at hand and, if necessary, don’t be afraid to wear a mask when gardening or taking a walk through a path dotted with trees and weeds. You should also rinse your nose from time to time to prevent pollen from sticking to it and, of course, you should also keep your house clean and dust free (especially, if you have allergy to dust mites).
Allergies are a predisposing factor for conditions such as sinus infections, asthma and other respiratory tract problems. In fact, some patients end up confusing the symptoms between these pathologies, which complicates things even further. Thus, a proper diagnosis is crucial to find out what your sinonasal inflammation is caused by and, in case it’s triggered by an allergy, to keep the specific allergens under control.
Spring is coming, what’s more, it is already here, but it’s up to you whether you let it tear you down or not. Hopefully, if you apply the right measures, you won’t have to fear the coming of spring. Believe it or not, it can be a time of joy!
