Sniffle, Sniffle, Achoo! Those words signal that spring allergy season is almost upon us, and for some Akron residents, it’s a real problem.
“Spring allergies are the worst,” said Ashley Freshwater, an Akron native. “My allergies get to the point where it feels like someone is choking me.”
Spring can often bring allergies that bring out the worst of us, but there are things you can do to prepare for the upcoming season and stop allergies in their tracks.
Nancy Granger, a nurse at the University of Akron Student Health Services, said, “Usually spring allergy season starts in April. Not only do you get basic congestion, but also sneezing, sore throat, loss of energy…. It really feels like you are incapacitated.”
Nancy Granger has also seen her fair share of severe allergy cases in hospitals.
“A woman came in, and her voice was so bad and congested that she could barely speak. We at the hospital were terrified at how bad the case was. After the allergy shots, she recovered, and the difference in her was like night and day.”
Allergies can really bog down the thoughts of vacationing, rest and relaxation. Sometimes, it can affect you when you least expect it.
“Spring allergies always get the best of me,” said Jacob Crapanzano, an Akron native. “I had a day planned where I was going to get a lot of important stuff done but when I went outside, allergies got to me, and I had to stop and spend the day on my bed, depressed.”
The most common cause of allergies in the spring is trees.
“Trees are the common culprit in the spring,” Granger said. “When trees start to bud at the beginning of spring, the pollen is often released into the air and attaches to your skin or clothes.”
Because pollen can move from miles away, exposure can be very hard to avoid. Elm, pecan and walnut trees are the biggest culprits for these allergies, said Nancy Granger.
“The pollen does not go away easy, either,” Nancy Granger said. “If you don’t get the pollen on your body taken care of quickly, you can be looking at having that pollen stay in you for a while.”
There is a solution to this, however.
“Once you get home, you have to immediately take a shower and get a change of clothes,” Nancy Granger said. “If you do this, the pollen is gone from your body, and the new clothes you will wear will, of course, not have any pollen on them.”
If your house is near trees, it is also important to keep all windows in your house closed, the same thing is true for the car. This way, pollen cannot sneak up on you.
So, what can be done to fight allergies in the spring? Is there a way to stop allergies dead in their tracks before they could ruin your plans of vacation?
The answer is tough to find, as allergies are becoming stronger and stronger. Few over-the-counter medicines, such as Afrin, can help. However, there are some precautions that you can take to prepare for the season.
“Allergy products like oral antihistamines really take care of allergy symptoms with your nose and throat,” Granger said. “Nasal spray can work as well, but when it comes to the spring if you are going to be outside a lot, you ABSOLUTELY need to shower and change clothes when you come back inside. It is the most effective method.”
