The culprit behind seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever, is pollen from blooming flowers and trees during spring.

One of the best ways to help reduce your hay fever symptoms is to reduce your exposure to pollen as much as possible. The Mayo Clinic has provided an extensive list of tips on how to accomplish this, including:

In the home

  • On dry, windy days, stay inside as much as possible
  • Hire (or ask) someone to mow the lawn, pull weeds, and do other gardening chores
  • Keep doors and windows closed at night when pollen counts are high
  • Turn on the air conditioning if you have it
  • Use a dehumidifier to keep the indoor air dry

Your clothing and body

  • After you’ve been outside, remove and wash your clothes
  • Rinse off after being outside
  • Don’t hang laundry outside to dry
  • Wear a pollen mask if doing outside chores

For many people, avoiding allergens and taking over-the-counter medications is enough to ease symptoms. But if your seasonal allergies are still bothersome, don’t give up. A number of other treatments are available.