Springtime in Texas brings warmer weather and a burst of color as the world seems to come alive. All that green doesn’t come without a cost, at least for those who suffer with spring allergies.
If you’re finding it hard to enjoy these beautiful spring days due to allergy symptoms, Chuck Osuagwu, MD, can offer assistance with managing the signs and symptoms of spring allergies. Through his practice at Centerville Medical Center, Dr. Osuagwu helps those in his care find a path away from coughing and sneezing and toward brighter days.
May is Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, providing a great opportunity to focus on advancements in diagnostic and treatment tools. Here are five tips to help you navigate the 2026 spring season.
Pollen is one of the leading allergens that cause spring allergies. Tree pollen is especially prevalent in the spring, as trees wake up from their winter slumber and leaves begin to unfurl. This can be a beautiful sight, but all that green means higher-than-average pollen counts in the environment.
It’s impossible to spend the entire season indoors, though some people with severe allergies wish they could. You can, however, limit your time outdoors on days when pollen counts are especially high. Many local news and radio stations report daily pollen counts, helping you plan.
Keeping doors and windows closed during the spring can help keep pollen out of your home. Using the recirculation mode in your vehicle’s air conditioning system can help keep it at bay while you’re driving. Installing an HVAC filter in your home’s air system is also helpful.
Furry friends that spend time outdoors can track pollen into your home on their paws or fur. This is a great time of year to bump up your grooming efforts to eliminate as much pollen as possible.
If grooming them yourself causes allergy flare-ups, see if a family member can take over this job during the height of spring pollen season. You might also look into professional grooming options, as some have package deals that can save you some money.
Saline sprays can help remove pollen from your nasal and sinus cavities, while also maintaining some necessary moisture. Though most of us associate allergies with sneezing and runny noses, problems can also arise if things get too dry.
Neti pots gently rinse your sinus cavities with saline water. They provide a better cleaning than nasal sprays, but it can take some time to get used to the sensation of water running through your sinuses. Bonus: You can see the results immediately if you dare to pay close attention to the solution that drips from your nose.
Several medications can help control seasonal allergies. Antihistamines work by preventing histamine from triggering allergy symptoms. Decongestants can help you breathe easier and reduce coughing. Steroid nasal sprays help control nasal congestion and sinus pressure.
But not everyone responds well to any particular combination of medications. What worked for you in previous years might not provide the same relief now. Even changes in your local pollen counts can alter the benefits of drug therapy. You might need to try a different combination of treatments this year.
Many people have lived with seasonal allergies for so long that they’ve simply come to expect the symptoms as inevitable. In reality, there is no need to suffer through coughing, sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, or itching eyes when help is readily available.
If you’re tired of having to shape your life around allergy symptoms each spring, make this the year you take action. Working with a medical professional can give you many more options for allergy care than what’s available over-the-counter.
If you’re ready to take action and explore treatment options for spring allergies, the team at Centerville Medical Center is standing by to assist. You can start today by booking your visit to our Garland, Texas, office by phone or online.
