With a wet spring moving directly into a hot and humid summer, allergy sufferers may feel their symptoms coming on even stronger than usual this year.

Those symptoms can range from nasal congestion and sneezing to itchy and watery eyes. Sufferers may even feel more tired than usual and experience a general malaise throughout the season.

While over-the-counter and prescription medication can alleviate symptoms, I also recommend allergy sufferers take the following actions to reduce their exposure to allergens:

• Avoid the outdoors between 5 to 10 a.m., the peak hours for pollen dispersal. 

• If you’ve been outside, shower immediately after getting indoors and before going to bed. This helps removes pollen from skin and hair.

• Wash clothing worn outdoors and bedding in hot water. Do not dry them outdoors.

• Keep the windows and doors of your home and car closed. Use an air conditioner to cool the air, not window or attic fans.

Nasal irrigation can also help by washing away mucus, allergy-creating particles and irritants like dust particles, pollutants and bacteria. There are several nasal rinse products available. Talk with your ear, nose, and throat specialist to find out the best option for you.

If you don’t know what you’re allergic to, a screening can help you determine what allergens to avoid. UC Health otolaryngologists will host free allergy screenings June 14 and 15 at our Clifton and West Chester offices.

During the appointments, patients will be screened for the common sources of allergies: dust mites, mold, grass, maple tree, ragweed and cat.

Most people with allergies are sensitive to a variety of triggers, but usually they have a reaction to at least one of these.

Screenings are done by skin prick testing, in which a very small amount of the allergen is put into an indentation in the skin of the forearm. If a patient is sensitive to a specific allergen, he or she will experience a small amount of temporary swelling in that area. Then, an allergy specialist can work with the patient to determine the best way to reduce and treat their symptoms.

Allen Seiden, MD, is a UC professor of otolaryngology and sees patients at the Clifton and West Chester UC Health offices. UC Health Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. To make an appointment, call (513) 475-8400.