Preparing for allergy season

Yep, it's started already......sneezing and wheezing.

Spring has already sprung here. In fact, the trees are in the "high" category for pollen right now. In some places in the U.S., they still have LOTS of snow. 

In the West, Winter forgot about us. We are wearing sundresses, shorts and t-shirts. 

And we are sneezing and wheezing. I was talking to a neighbor who started sneezing and then she said "allergies." I nodded, "Mmmmhmmm, we're all sneezing at our house." She asked if we took anything for allergies. "Um, yeah. Singulair, Zyrtec, Allegra and 5 years worth of allergy shots!"

Mayo Clinic has some great information about Hay fever.    Do any of these symptoms that they list seem familiar? 

• Runny nose and nasal congestion
• Watery or itchy eyes
• Sneezing
• Cough
• Itchy nose, roof of mouth or throat
• Sinus pressure and facial pain
• Swollen, blue-colored skin under the eyes (allergic shiners)
• Decreased sense of smell or taste

They also have a chart to help you figure out if it's hay fever (allergies) or a cold. They also suggest when it's time to go see a doctor for allergies. 

For us, allergies last year round. You know allergies are bad when you add tissues to the weekly shopping list.....EVERY week! We also buy allergy medicine and allergy nose spray IN BULK at the warehouse store. 

In fact, I should buy stock in those companies...I am making them rich and paying for the CEO's beach house in Hawaii! Sigh.

Mayo Clinic lists medications that help treat asthma.  They also list ways to make your home allergy friendly.

If you are struggling with allergies, I hope the Mayo Clinic site can help you decide what to do. Don't suffer through it - there are medicine to treat your symptoms and things you can do to make your house allergy friendly.

It's an early spring - and it's going to be a long one. I am all stocked up on tissues and allergy medicine! Bring it on!