Allergy Season Is Worse Than Ever Before — Here’s How to Get Relief

There’s nothing like warmer weather and more sunshine to put a pep in your step. Your local market is stocked with colorful blooms, it’s officially iced-coffee weather, and the sun is setting past 7 p.m. again. Life is good!

But things get complicated if you happen to be one of the millions of seasonal allergy sufferers dealing with an itchy throat, watery eyes, and non-stop sneezing. In a survey of adults who experience seasonal allergies conducted by Bayer, 87% feel frustrated by their symptoms*. And allergy symptoms aren’t just a general downer. They can make it difficult to focus*, mess with your sleep, make everyday tasks challenging, and affect your mood.

There may be a reason your seasonal allergies feel worse with each passing year. Changing climates have triggered earlier growing seasons, leading to intense pollen surges that last longer than they used to, per the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Of course, you can’t control when the trees come back to life, but you can control how you respond to the burst of greenery and the symptoms you get from them.

That starts with being aware of the allergens in your area, keeping pollen out of your home, and always remaining prepared with products like *Claritin® Liquid, * which offers the powerful, 24-hour non-drowsy allergy relief of Claritin® in an instantly soothing Cooling Honey Flavored Liquid.

If you happen to feel personally victimized by outdoor allergens like pollen or even common indoor ones like pet dander, mold, or dust mites, here are some ways to find relief.

Be Prepared When Going Outside

A little refresher: pollen is made up of the tiny grains or seeds of flowers, weeds, trees, and grasses. Wind kicks it up into the air so it winds up, well, everywhere. If you’ve noticed a green powder layered on top of your car’s windshield, front doorsteps, or the edges of your windowsills, that’s the stuff sneaking into your airways and setting off your allergy symptoms.

That’s why experts recommend checking your local pollen forecast. Weather apps on your phone can give you a sense of the overall air quality, or you can search your location on your preferred browser for a local report.

If you’re sensitive to pollen levels and they are measured as “high” near you, it can help to limit your time outside or take a product like Claritin® Liquid to ensure you can make the most of any fun outdoor plans should allergy symptoms come up. Another pro tip: rock the sunnies! Most allergy-suffering adults (77%) don’t know it*, but wearing sunglasses can help alleviate symptoms. By protecting your eyes, you’re preventing some airborne particles and pollen from entering them, so don’t be afraid to go outside in style!

Restock Your Medicine Cabinet

If your doctor has diagnosed you with allergies, rest assured that you have plenty of medication options that’ll bring sweet relief. One of the most popular is antihistamines. They work by (surprise!) blocking histamine, the chemical your body releases when you’re exposed to an allergen. But what if you just can’t keep track of multiple tablets, eye drops, and nasal sprays? Or what if you hate taking pills?

That’s where Claritin® Liquid comes in. With a single dose, you can experience powerful, non-drowsy relief from common, bothersome allergy symptoms like a runny nose, itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, and an itchy nose for up to 24 hours. Plus, Claritin® Liquid also relieves an itchy throat, something two out of five allergy sufferers deal with on the regular*.

The best thing you can do is stock up now, so you have remedies on hand when you need relief. Luckily, you can find Claritin® Liquid online in either a 2.7 or 8 fluid ounce bottle.

Turn Your Home Into A Haven

While it’s difficult to avoid allergens when you’re soaking up some nature, you can prevent them from totally taking over your home.

• If you’ve been doing yard work or running in the park, take your shoes off before you step back inside. Toss your clothes into the hamper (not on your bed!), then take a shower to get rid of any pollen hanging out on your skin and hair.
• Keep your windows and doors closed. If it’s warm inside, run the A/C (and change the filter as needed) so you can recirculate indoor air.
• Get in the habit of washing your linens, like your bedsheets and curtains, weekly. Give commonly used surfaces a good wipe-down, too.
• Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to sweep up allergens clinging to the floor.
• Running an air purifier with a HEPA filter won’t zap every single allergen from the air, but it can help to significantly reduce them. Just make sure you buy a model that works for your room’s square footage and clean it regularly.

Keep in mind that high pollen counts ebb and flow throughout spring and summer, so stick with your game plan. It may feel like that itchy throat will plague you forever, but taking a few simple steps to stay ahead of your symptoms can help you enjoy the sunnier days ahead.