The Mountain Eagle
WHITESBURG WEATHER

Spring allergies are here





Spring is a time for renewal, but if you suffer from seasonal allergies this renewal can make this time of year miserable.

Hay fever, also called allergic rhinitis, starts with cold-like symptoms. Unlike a cold that goes away in seven to 10 days, an allergic reaction tends to linger until its source is identified and treated or no longer present.

One of the most common causes of allergies during the spring is a high pollen count. Depending upon the type of pollen to which you are allergic, this could happen at various points in the season. Different types of pollen peak at different times.

To reduce your exposure to pollen, monitor local pollen counts and take necessary precautions when the type of pollen you are allergic to is high. Precautions can include such things as starting to take allergy medicines or closing the windows in your home at night, as well as the following:

• Stay inside on dry, windy days.

• Change your clothes and shower after being outside to remove pollen.

• Do not hang laundry outside.

• Avoid being outdoors in the morning, when pollen counts are the highest.

• Use air conditioning to cool your house or car.

• Vacuum your floors often.

Seasonal allergies can develop at any time during your life and are not necessarily something with which you are born. Sometimes signs of allergies aren’t straightforward, as it can be hard to distinguish an allergy from the common cold. This is especially true with children. If you or your child has cold symptoms that last more than a week or seem to occur at the same time every year, you may want to talk with your health care provider about it. Only a certified health care provider can truly diagnose allergies and prescribe treatments.

For more information on healthy living, contact Nanette Banks at the Letcher County Extension Office at 633-2362.



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