Spring allergies are no joke here in central Florida. As early as late December, temperatures can rise enough to bring about many environmental allergies. By the time spring allergy season ends in May, allergy sufferers have spent half a year dealing with constant sneezing, coughing, and congestion.
Knowledge is power when it comes to dealing with spring allergies. Allergy testing can inform you about your exact allergy triggers and allow your allergist to formulate customized allergy drops based on your specific triggers. Armed with this knowledge, you can avoid places and situations where your allergies are likely to act up. Some of the most common spring allergy triggers we can identify with allergy testing include:
Pollen
Pollen is probably the most common spring allergy trigger we see here in Florida. Our climate is perfectly suited to host abundant plant life, which means as soon as the temperature hits about 50°F consistently, the pollen numbers start to rise. Trees and grass are the most common sources of pollen during the spring.
Grasses
Pollen isn’t the only thing that makes grasses bad for people with allergies. Lawns here can stay green all year, giving grass allergy sufferers few breaks from their nagging symptoms. In spring, when most grasses start to grow faster and reproduce, those symptoms become amplified.
Ragweed
Ragweed has a tendency to hang around all year in Florida due to our hot and humid conditions, which are optimal for ragweed survival. One ragweed plant can produce over a billion grains of ragweed that are easily spread for miles by wind gusts alone. It’s no wonder ragweed is so pervasive and hard to control!
Smoke
People love to start their yearly landscaping when the weather warms up, and that inevitably includes burning piles of dead leaves and yard debris. When those fires start up, people with smoke allergies have to run indoors to escape from the offending fumes.
Mold
People should never be around mold, especially people with mold allergies. Mold can cause numerous health problems—even permanent disability and death—if not avoided and dealt with properly inside a home. Always make sure your home is clean and dry with no dark, moist areas for mold to grow.
Insect bites and stings
Along with the spring flowers come the pollinators and their defensive natures. People who unwittingly trespass into their areas are met with a swift and decisive sting, which can cause serious reactions in certain individuals. Always carry an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) if you have a history of allergies to insect bites or stings.
Spring Allergy Testing and Treatment in Tampa Bay
Let TLC Medical help you find out exactly what is causing your spring allergies and develop a customized treatment plan that addresses your specific triggers. Call us at (813) 874-1852 or book an appointment online to get started today!
