Everybody loves spring. Warm weather, flowers blooming, gentle showers…and terrible allergies? Like it or not, springtime is one of the worst times for allergy-sufferers, what with all the pollen floating around in the air. But there are some things you can do to alleviate your symptoms, and keep the sneezing in check.

Wear a hat – This may sound silly, but a hat functions as a physical barrier between you and your hair from all those runny-nose, itchy eyes-inducing pollen floating around.

Wear sunglasses – Just like the hat, sunglasses will protect those sensitive eyes from tearing up and itching at the first sign of pollen. As an added bonus, people may mistake you for a celebrity.

Keep windows closed – Open windows just invite those pesky allergens into your home and car, so while it sounds awesome to drive on a sunny day with the windows rolled down, try to avoid doing so.

Do some major spring cleaning – Yea, cleaning all the time is a pain, but if it can prevent those itchy throats, stuffed noses and headaches, isn’t it worth it? Vacuum and dust regularly, and make sure to wash your sheets and pillows often – those pesky little dust mites are often a top allergen for many allergy sufferers.

Stay indoors in the early morning  – Pollen counts are highest first thing in the morning, and lowest in the late afternoon. So do yourself a favor, and sleep in an extra hour (or two!)

Try a saltwater rinse – Buy a nasal rinse kit at any drugstore and use it with salt water at least  once a day to clear your nasal passages.

Be preventative – When left untreated for too long, allergies can often lead to illness. So stock up on your Claritin, Allegra, Benadryl, neti pots, and anything else you might need. If your allergies are particularly bad, you may want to consider a visit to the doctor for some allergy shots.

– Esther Carlstone