Spring can be the most delightful season of the year…unless you suffer from allergies. If you’re one of those people who huff and puff when pollen gets into the air, then springtime can be a miserable few months characterized by itchy red eyes and runny noses. And to make matters worse, warmer temperatures can lead to higher pollen counts, which translates into longer allergy seasons. Fortunately, medical science has identified practices that can help you deal with pollen. The first thing you must do is find out what specific allergens are causing your symptoms, which starts by noting when your symptoms start by making a note in a calendar or planner. Next, minimize exposure to allergens. Use an online app to track pollen counts, and spending less time outdoors when pollen counts are high. When you do spend time outdoors, make sure to shower and change clothing to prevent ongoing exposure to pollen. Another thing you must do is take a pro-active approach to treat your symptoms. Don’t wait for symptoms to get bad. Instead, start using medications before symptoms develop to prevent them from getting out of control. This can also decrease the amount of medication needed overall. Lastly, explore the role of immunotherapy with your doctor. Immunotherapy can change the immune response through the administration of small regimented doses of allergens over time. This induces a state of tolerance, eventually helping people become less allergic over time. All of this may seem like a lot of work to do just to deal with allergies, but the truth is that it takes a multifaceted approach to deal with the symptoms of pollen season.