Pollen irritating you? Here is what you should know

Joshua Williams, Mississippi Clarion Ledger
Updated ·2 min read

As summer approaches in the final weeks of spring, pollen is still abundant throughout Mississippi.

It is no wonder as the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reports that the most common trees that produce pollen are alder, cottonwood, oak, elm, olive, hickory, pecan, beech, juniper, walnut, box elder, birch, maple and willow, many of which are abundant throughout Mississippi.

Many people have allergic reactions to pollen, including sinus problems, watery eyes and sneezing.

Below, the Mississippi Asthma & Allergy Clinic has provided some tips on how people can limit their exposure to pollen.

Ways to limit pollen exposure

  • Keeping windows closed while driving and at home helps limit tracking pollen into your home or car.

  • Leaving your shoes near the door after walking through pollen throughout the day can prevent tracking it into your bedroom.

  • If you have animals, give them a routine clean to wash off access pollen that attaches to their coats.

  • Regularly wash your beard or hair, as pollen tends to stay in thicker hair.

Over-the-counter medication to help with allergies

  • Azelastine ― Dedication relieves nasal symptoms such as runny/itching/stuffy nose, sneezing, and post-nasal drip caused by allergies or other conditions.

  • Cetirizine ― An antihistamine used to relieve allergy symptoms such as watery eyes, runny nose, itching eyes/nose, sneezing, hives and itching.

  • Desloratadine ― Used to relieve the symptoms of hay fever and hives of the skin.

  • Fexofenadine ― An antihistamine medicine that helps with the symptoms of allergies.

  • Levocetirizine ― Used to relieve the symptoms of hay fever and skin hives.

  • Loratadine ― An antihistamine medicine that helps with the symptoms of allergies. It's used to treat: hay fever. Conjunctivitis (red, itchy eyes) eczema.

If you have questions or concerns about pollen allergies, call the Mississippi Asthma & Allergy Clinic at 601-898-1877.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: As pollen and allergy season continue in Jackson MS area how to cope