Fighting The Ugly Side Of Spring

GOLDEN TRIANGLE AREA (WCBI) – The coming of spring means trees are budding out and flowers are in bloom.

If you’re one of the millions of people who have seasonal allergies it means congestion, runny noses and itchy, watery eyes.

“You can’t really control what you’re breathe in. Pollens going to be out there; the flowers are blooming,” said Stewart Center Physician Assistant Matthew Bills.

With that being said there are ways to cut down on this season’s symptoms and the experts says it starts with the simple things.

“Good hand washing, making sure they do check the weather before you leave the house to dress appropriately,” said Noxubee General Hospital Nurse Practitioner Dorthey Bester.

“In the cars keep the air condition on recirculate. If you have it where air from the outside in all those allergens get in,” said Bills.

The Asthma and Allergy Federation Of America shows more than 50 million people in the U.S. suffer allergies during this season.

“Which basically is an inflammation of the nasal passage which is causing a lot of those symptoms because it’s inflamed and it’s causing symptoms to occur such as sneezing and this post nasal drainage which is mucus draining in the back of your throat,” said Bester.

Bester says to cut down on symptoms, you must be on guard everywhere.

“If you’re going to cut grass, wear a mask, if you’re very sensitive to pollen dust and stuff like that,when you know it’s going to be a bad day for pollen try to stay indoors. Another thing since it’s the Spring time of year we would suggest doing some Spring cleaning. Doing dusting cleaning your windows cleaning you’re ac filter. That will really help,” said Bester.

If you are already experiencing Spring Hay Fever, Bester says drink plenty of water and take medicine.

Bills says if the issues continue head in for a visit.

“If you’re not being helped out by your allergy medicines you can always be allergy tested for specifically what’s going on. More common things here in the region you can be tested for,” said Bills.

Allergy season is already here, even though Spring doesn’t begin officially until March 20th.