The return of spring and baseball brings excitement. It also marks the start of allergy season, which can hamper any fan's enthusiasm.
One in ten Americans suffers from seasonal allergies, more commonly known as hay fever, and tree, grass and weed pollen is the biggest spring allergy trigger.
When pollen enters your nose, it causes the immune system to go into overdrive, and may result in a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, itchy and watery eyes, dark circles under the eyes, and in severe cases, asthma.
The higher the pollen count, the greater the misery to allergy sufferers.
So, follow pollen counts in the news. Your symptoms can be prevented or lessened by keeping house and car windows closed, and avoiding mowing grass and other yard work. If outside chores are necessary, wear a mask that filters pollen.
Check with your physician if you suffer from extreme or chronic allergies.
To learn more about allergies or for other health tips, visit Barnabas Health's online Health Library at healthlibrary.barnabashealth.org