Louisville, Kentucky is notorious as one of the most allergy-ridden regions in the country. Due to our location in the Ohio River valley, the area has a high-pollen level. In fact, Louisville was listed in 46th place on Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s list of most challenging places to live with seasonal allergies in the spring and 43rd place in the fall.
Just because we live in an allergy-ridden area, that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy spring.
There are ways to rid your home of allergens and make your life easier and a little less sneezy.
But first, what are allergies, and how do they manifest in your everyday life?
Allergy Rhinitis or Hay Fever is a result of the body’s immune system overreacting to something in the environment. More than 50 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies each year. The most common allergens are tree pollen, weed pollen, and grass.
Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies
- Itchy nose, ears, eyes, or mouth
- Sneezing
- Congestion or runny nose
- Wheezing
- Scratchy throat
- Swelling around the eyes
- Rashes or hives
Reduce your Contact with Pollen
The first step to reducing your contact with pollen and therefore your symptoms is being aware of what you are allergic to. Skin testing can help reveal what your allergy triggers may be. Our office can provide you with skin allergy testing as part of our membership. Here are some ways you
- Check pollen forecasts daily.
- Vacuum or sweep your floors and rugs regularly.
- Clean your bedding often.
- Change your furnace filters every 90 days or so.
- Take a shower and wash your hair before going to bed, as pollen can land on your hair and your clothes while outside.
- Keep your windows closed during peak pollen seasons.
- Wipe pets that go outside off with a towel before they come back inside.
Get Seasonal Allergy Relief at Our Family Direct Primary Care
In addition to allergy skin testing, we offer allergy shots which can be an effective treatment method for allergy sufferers. Another option we can provide you is sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) aka allergy drops. Let us know if you are struggling with pesky allergy symptoms and together we can look into the best treatment option for you. Contact us today for more information.