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Oak Pollen and Spring Allergies. These may sound like names of those new subdivisions that seemingly pop-up overnight. In many areas located among the southern states of the country- they do, but they appear as allergens, not houses.

Hello Allergies!

Many people see the start of spring as a welcomed change: Soft, warm breezes that stir the once-bare trees, now green and budding. The days are longer, bringing gentle rains and falling mists. But with the warm breeze comes airborne pollen. And if you suffer from seasonal allergies, you probably feel them with every breath you take.

Inhaled allergens send the body’s immune system into overdrive, making the advent of spring a miserable experience. In the springtime alone, 30 to 60 million people in the United States are affected by allergies to pollen. Welcome Spring!

It Started with a Tiny Acorn

Spring is tree pollen season. Across the country, nothing says “spring” more than yellow pollen billowing down from hundreds of oak trees. Many are the comparisons to strength and character that speak to the oak tree. They add beauty and grace to our landscape, but they also make it miserable for those people with oak tree allergies. Symptoms include stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, coughing and red, watery, or itchy eyes. Some people may also experience an itchy throat or nose, fatigue, and dark circles under the eyes.

Fortunately, with oak tree allergies, you know when it will strike. Just look at the yellow powder on the hood of your car!

Oak creates airborne pollen. There are steps you can take to manage your allergy symptoms, which will help brighten your spring. First, take your allergy medication before the day starts. Medicines like antihistamines work the fastest, but take a while to kick in.

Be sure to change your clothes after being outside for any significant amount of time. If possible, a quick shower will also rinse the pollen out of your hair. Speaking of clothing, machine dry your clothes when pollen is high. Pollen will cling to clothes hung to dry on the outside line.

Also, avoid outdoor exercise in the morning. Keep up the routine indoors or wait until evening when pollen levels are lower.

Although a spring breeze may be tempting you to throw open all the windows in the house, don’t do it! Keep house and car windows closed to lower your exposure to tree pollens.

You can also find relief from spring allergy symptoms on rainy, windless, or cloudy days.

An Ounce of Prevention

Learning all you can about seasonal allergies is a great first-step towards gaining more control of all the seasons of your life. Be sure to communicate with your allergist about any new allergy symptoms or changes in old ones. Stay current on all medications and don’t skip any doses. Welcome the learning and embrace the change that knowledge can give you.

Along with Spring Comes Gratitude

We are all grateful to be welcoming warmer weather, beautiful blossoms, and sunnier days, but here at Southern California Allergy we have even more to be thankful for. In March, and throughout the year, we are grateful to our providers and employees for their stellar contributions in providing excellent care to our patients. Thanks to their agility, versatility, adaptability, and capability we can present integrity, knowledge, compassion, and teamwork. We couldn’t be happier to have such an amazing team.

Next time you see a member of our team, or your provider, be sure to let them know what a wonderful job they are doing. Happy Spring from Southern California Allergy.