Spring and summer in Alabama is rich and green, full of flowering bushes and trees, lush grasses and evergreens. Of course, those very things that make Alabama’s warm seasons so fragrant and beautiful are the same things that bring on the worst of the season: allergies.
There’s not much more annoying than the itchy, watery eyes; the constantly dripping nose; the endless sneezing; the post-nasal drip. But what’s a Southerner to do but suffer through? With some help from Crimson Care: Family Medicine and Urgent Care, you can set yourself up for a sneeze-free summer.
Avoid irritants as much as possible. Living someplace that exhibits a light dusting of yellow starting in early spring, that can sound like an impossible task. But you can make small changes that can make you more comfortable during allergy season: Exercise indoors when possible, to avoid plants and grasses that might generate a reaction. Keep your home free from dust as much as possible, and keep doors and windows closed.
Watch pollen counts. Keeping up with the pollen count is pretty easy in the South. In addition to websites and apps, you’ll find most spring and summer weather reports include a pollen count, which should be an indication for you to stay indoors, particularly avoiding outdoor exercise. If you must be outside, try to focus your outdoor time in the evening hours, as early morning hours typically have higher pollen concentrations.
Keep up with your medication. Don’t give your allergies the chance to take root; start taking your seasonal allergy medication as soon as seasons start to change. Once the heavy coating of pollen starts appearing on cars and windows, it will take a bit longer for your medication to kick in. Keep taking your medication even when symptoms may subside, so you can avoid rebooting effectiveness.
Upgrade your filters. Because your air conditioner or heat pump can draw in significant amounts of pollen and other irritants, investing in HEPA filters or high efficiency particulate air, which is a type of air filter. To achieve this rating, a filter must remove at least 99.97 percent of even the smallest particles from the air. You may also want to invest in a HEPA-based air purifier. These units are great for smaller areas, such as a bedroom, and can help keep particulates from building up in the air.
Find a medical partner that’s right for you. Treating allergies over the counter can provide temporary relief, but working with your physician, you can determine the cause of your allergies and the best way to treat them. The right practice will also make the routine treatment of allergies convenient and stress-free for you. A practice like Crimson Care in Tuscaloosa.
With the medical right partner -- and the right treatment plan in place -- you can help lay the foundation for a sneeze-free summer. And spring and fall, too.
Dr. Ramesh Peramsetty -- along with his entire Crimson Care team -- is committed to making medical services convenient and accessible. Crimson Care is available seven days a week, with wait times of less than one hour. The clinic offers two Tuscaloosa location; one on Veterans Memorial Parkway and the other on Skyland Boulevard. Both locations offer extended weekday hours and one-stop treatment services including medical care, x-rays, lab work, and prescription dispensing. In addition to physical convenience, Crimson Care also offers digital access through its online patient portal. With your own login credentials and a laptop, you can request prescription refills, complete any necessary patient forms online, review your medical records at any time, and even pay your bill. Check us out today on our website, or give us a call at Crimson Care Veterans: (205) 507-1100 Crimson Care Skyland: 205-507-1119.