Did you know? Seasonal allergies affect over 50 million Americans every year, and they normally start hitting people right about now.

Learn more about them from our AFC Urgent Care Memphis team below!

How Can I Know If I’m Experiencing Allergies?

If you start to experience abnormal symptoms, it’s easy to pin them on being sick with something a little more concerning these days, like COVID-19, the flu, a common cold or something of that nature. While seasonal allergies and these conditions do sometimes share similar symptoms, there are some key differentiating factors. First, itching in the eyes or nose is more common with allergies than with any of these illnesses.

Another tell-tale sign of seasonal allergies is the color of your mucus. With something like a cold or the flu, mucus will be thick and yellow or green; with allergies, mucus is clear and runny. We’ve listed a few other common seasonal allergy symptoms below.

Common Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

• Itchy, watery or red eyes
• Circles under eyes
• Itchy mouth, nose or throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Drainage from the nose down the back of the throat (postnasal drip)
• Temporary loss of smell
• Headache
• Sneezing

Can I Get Rid of Seasonal Allergies?

Most likely, no. Seasonal allergies are often a lifelong issue for people, but there are cases where some people grow out of them as they get much older.

Even though this is disappointing, there are things you can do to reduce the severity of your symptoms. In addition to what we’ve listed in the section below, one of the best things you can do is to take over-the-counter decongestants or antihistamines, which can limit the sneezing and sniffling.

Ways to Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

• Know when to take your allergy medications. If you typically experience bad allergies around the same time each year, start taking your nose sprays or OTC antihistamines about two weeks before allergy season starts, and then keep taking them regularly throughout your allergy season.
• Keep indoor air clean. You can do this by using a dehumidifier and vacuuming regularly. This will reduce the amount of harmful allergens that make their way inside the home.
• After spending time outside, remove your clothes and shower to rinse pollen from your skin and hair.

Are you dealing with seasonal allergies and ready to feel better? Don’t hesitate to visit our AFC Urgent Care Memphis team today!