As spring reaches its peak, those who suffer from seasonal allergies get more prevalent symptoms. The warm weather is bringing out seasonal allergies early, and as a result students are looking for ways to minimize their symptoms and enjoy the spring season.

“My allergies get a lot worse in the spring because the weather gets a lot warmer and there is so much pollen, especially this year,” senior Kenzi Wright said.

One of the most common allergies that people are afflicted with during the spring season is pollen. Pollen causes a wide range of symptoms, including eye irritation, a runny nose, headaches and even a sore throat. The following tips are ways to counter the effects of allergies, as well as have an all-around healthier season.

Clean up

One of the easiest things that can be done to help with allergies is simple: just clean up. This can include vacuuming around your house to remove trapped pollen in the carpet and keeping your doors and windows closed during the spring, especially on days with a high pollen count. You can even invest in an air purifier to get rid of air pollutants inside of your home. Another tip that may help is to wash your hair after you have been outside for awhile, in order to remove pollen and other particles that have been trapped in your hair and which may trigger allergy symptoms.

“I have special eye solutions that clean my eyes that I use after I shower. It takes all the pollen out of my eyes that might be stuck in there,” sophomore Alexia Sung said.

Over the counter

Another simple solution is to turn to over-the-counter medicines (OTCs) to help control your allergy symptoms. It is important to remember that OTCs will not get rid of your allergies, but will help to reduce your symptoms and alleviate pain or discomfort. Claritin, Benadryl and Allegra are some OTC medications recommended to treat multiple allergy symptoms. You can also try different decongestants if you struggle with congestion issues, or eye drops if you face irritation from outdoor pollutants.

“I take Claritin D which helps with my runny nose, and I also take Advil Sinus Relief and use eye drops because they get really red,” sophomore Kunnica Kou said.

Nutrition

As with any illness, leading a nutritious, balanced diet will aid in relieving symptoms as well as lead to a healthier body year round.

It will help to look for foods that are high in antioxidants as well as omega-3, as they reduce inflammation and help boost your immune system. Nuts are a great food to eat, especially walnuts due to their antioxidant levels. Fruits and vegetables are also recommended, so try to eat ones with high levels of vitamin C and antioxidants, such as tomatoes, grapes and apples.“I also eat less junk food because fruits seem like a better choice since I’m outside a lot,” Kou said.

Try any of these tips to help get your allergies under control this season so that you can get outside and enjoy the weather.