Louisiana Allergy Alert: Survive Spring with These Tips

Springtime in Louisiana is beautiful. Everything is so green and lush and beautiful. Animals are moving. Temps are mild compared to the summer. It's a great time to be outside.

However, all of that beauty comes with a price: swollen eyes, runny nose, congestion, coughing, headaches, ect.. Of course, I'm talking about allergy season in Louisiana - which if you're anything like me, is absolutely brutal.

Thanks to the change in the weather and all those beautiful budding flows, the pollen levels, mold levels and other environmental factors just set our sinuses ablaze. It's horrible.

So, if you want to enjoy some of what spring has to offer in Louisiana without feeling like total garbage, here are some helpful tips to survive Louisiana's brutal allergy season.

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Common Louisiana Spring Allergens

Before we can really get into how to combat spring allergies, we have to understand what causes them. And thanks to Louisiana's climate, there's a lot of them.

According to Lourdes Urgent Care, here's some of the top causes of seasonal allergies in Louisiana:

• Tree pollen - specifically from pine, maple and oak trees.
• Mold spores to warm & humid climates - specifically when it's rainy.
• Ragweed
• Grass Pollen
• Dust Mites
• Flowering Plants

That list doesn't even include weather related issues like sudden changes to air pressure (which really mess me up) and windy days that cause all those things listed above to flood our systems and make us miserable.

So what can we do to survive?

READ MORE: Any Truth To These Old Wives Tales About Louisiana Weather?

Louisiana Allergy Season Survival Tips

What can you do to combat pollen, tree spores, mold and all the other things that can set our heads on fire?

Here's some simple tips according to the Mayo Clinic:

• Avoid the outdoors on dry windy days. During this time of the year, the best time to go outside is after a rain - because the pollen and whatnot is wet and not freely blowing in the wind. If you have to be outside on a dry, windy day: they suggest wearing some kind of face covering to reduce the amount of allergens you breath in.
• Avoid outdoor chores like mowing, which can stir up irritants and force them into your system.
• Shower after being outdoors. The idea is that if you spent any time outdoors, you can wash off any excess irritants before they get in your system.
• Don't air dry your laundry. You put them outside, they're going to get covered in pollen.
• Avoid outdoor activities in the early morning - research says this is typically when pollen counts are at their highest.
• Rinse your sinuses. I HATE this but it really works. Get a Neti Pot or Navage or make your own. But washing your sinuses can provide immediate relief and flush all that nasty junk out of your system before they cause problems.

Of course, the experts say during this time of the year, you should regularly clean your home & car. Vacuum with a HEPA filter equipped vacuum. Regularly wipe down surfaces. Keep your windows closed. And, if you have one or can afford it, use a portable HEPA air filter in your home - specifically your bedroom.

Another tip that I've seen numerous experts suggest: If you know it's going to be a dry, windy day where allergy issues are going to pop up, take your sinus medication of choice before you actually need it. Being pro-active and on top of it may not fix everything, but it can prevent you from being completely miserable.

If you're into "alternative medicine", apparently alternative treatments like acupuncture, extracts of shrub butterbur or spirulina can help. Never tried it...but if my eyes keep swelling shut, I may have to give it a try.