With the first day of Spring right around the corner, you can almost feel Spring in the air. But along with the warmer weather and blooming flowers comes pollen and all of those annoying allergy symptoms.

But flowers and their pollen aren’t the only ones to blame. In fact, many allergies people experience are actually caused by pollen from trees, grasses and weeds.

Mountain cedar, or the Ashe Juniper Tree, blooms in states like Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arizona and New Mexico and is actually famous for the amount of pollen it releases. It is known as “cedar fever” and generally runs from December 15 to February 15. When the pollen releases, it looks like smoke in the air. While some trees, grasses and weeds release pollen in seasonal bursts, depending on where you are located in the country, many pollinate all year long, leaving you to contend with the consequences for your allergies. Grass allergy season, for example, runs normally from April to June in northern parts of the United States, but can run year-round for some southern regions.

What are symptoms of pollen allergies? 

According to the Allergy & Asthma Network, symptoms of pollen allergies can include:

• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose
• Postnasal drip
• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Watery, itchy eyes
• Eye swelling
• Weakness or fatigue

So what can you do to treat your symptoms? 

First, you should always talk to an expert to help you determine the best plan of action to treat the unique symptoms you’re experiencing. Your doctor might recommend anything from over-the-counter solutions like antihistamines to eye drops or nasal sprays.

Second, you can take measures to be proactive and prevent pesky pollen allergies by reducing your exposure to allergy triggers.

1. Check pollen levels in your area. When you look up the weather, also see what the pollen counts are like that day. Websites and apps like Weather.com or Wunderground conveniently provide you with a pollen forecast so you can be prepared as you step out into the world.
2. When pollen counts are high, or on dry, windy days, stay inside and keep your windows and doors closed. Pollen counts are generally highest in the early morning, so avoid outdoor activity during that time.
3. Keep your indoor air clean. Vacuuming and making sure your HVAC system has up to date filters is important, but one of the best ways to reduce airborne allergens in your home is with an effective air purifier. On high pollen days, make sure you keep your windows closed and your air purifier running on a higher speed for more frequent air changes per hour. With AirDoctor, Auto-mode will always give you the best 24/7 protection based on air quality levels, but on high pollen days, a simple tap of the fan speed button will give your air an extra boost and keep the air clear before it can even detect a pollen grain.

Keeping these simple steps in mind can help you avoid allergens, and for many people can be enough to alleviate allergy symptoms. But if your seasonal allergies are bad, you should always talk to an expert to help you determine the best plan of action to treat the unique symptoms you’re experiencing. Whatever the solution might be for you, a number of treatments are available to relieve your symptoms and stop your spring allergy suffering, allowing you more time to stop and enjoy the flowers.