*This post has been sponsored by FLONASE. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Yay it’s Spring and I’m ready to hang outside! The sun is shining longer. The birds are chirping louder. The flowers …well, they are already triggering my seasonal allergies left and right. Anyone else just start sneezing at the though of pollen or freshly cut grass? My seasonal allergies are pretty bad, so I wanted to share a few tips that help me keep them under control.

1. Finding Immediate Relief.

Head to your local Walgreens for an over-the-counter antihistamine. I personally prefer nasal sprays over pills; they are more effective in my experience. I was excited to find and try the new FLONASE Sensimist Allergy Relief. It helps block six allergic substances; most allergy pills only block one.* Unlike most allergy pills, FLONASE relieves.**

Be sure to find a Walgreens near you to pick up some FLONASE Sensimist today. You know I love a good deal. You can get $4.00 OFF ONE (1) 120 Sprays FLONASE Sensimist Allergy Relief or 120 Sprays FLONASE Allergy Relief product. You can also save $2.00 on ONE (1) FLONASE Sensimist Allergy Relief or FLONASE Allergy Relief product. Offers Valid: 4/21-5/4, 5/12-5/18, and 5/26-6/8.

2. Know Your Allergy Triggers and Avoid Them.

I plan for my day as an allergy sufferer just as much as I plan ahead for the weather. You wouldn’t get dressed or pack for a trip without looking at the weather forecast, would you? Nor would you plan a picnic when there’s a 100% chance of rain. Apply that same consideration to checking the pollen count forecast or other triggers. For example, I

go outside with the kids almost every day after school—except for lawn day. I know that if I go outside and take in all of that fresh-cut grass, my sinuses wouldn’t forgive me for at least a week. Other ways to avoid triggers:

-Wearing masks and gloves when doing yard work.

-Washing your hands immediately upon coming indoors.

-Exercise in the morning instead of the afternoon

-Wash your hair and pets often.

-Don’t lounge around the house in “outside” clothes.

3. Wash Your Nose.

Water up my nose never seemed like a good idea until I did it on purpose. A sinus wash can be a game changer for allergy sufferers. It helps to clear allergens out of your air way, thin mucus and even combats that pesky thing known as post nasal drip. To create at home mix 3 teaspoons of salt (iodide free) with 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Store this mixture in an airtight container for repeated uses. Then put 1 teaspoon of the mixture into 8 ounces of distilled water. If you don’t have distilled water you can boil tap water and allow it to cool. Using a spray bottle or syringe, lean over a sink and gently flush one nostril at a time. Make sure to keep your mouth open so that it doesn’t run down your throat. Mom Tip: When I use this method on my littles I have them say “ahhhhh” during the wash to make sure they don’t breathe in any of the water.

4. Clean the air in your home.

When is the last time you’ve changed your air filters? If you can’t remember then you need to change them immediately. You should be using HEPA air filters in your home and have your air ducts cleaned at least once a year. You should also keep doors and windows closed as much as possible, vacuum at least twice a weeks, keep indoor plants to a minimum and keep your indoor pets off furniture.

5. Drink More Water.

When your body becomes dehydrated, histamine levels rise in to help preserve the amount of water in your body. Adequate water intake will help your body properly regulate histamine. That’s it folks. That’s the speech. Drink more water.

I hope this list was helpful because sometimes an “allergy attack” can be worse than having the flu. Anyone else have a house full of allergy sufferers? What are some things you do to survive spring? Let me know in the comments.

*Mechanism vs. most over-the-counter (OTC) allergy pills. FLONASE nasal sprays act on multiple inflammatory substances (histamine, prostaglandins, cytokines, tryptases, chemokines and leukotrienes). The exact number and precise mechanism are unknown.

**vs single-ingredient antihistamines which do not treat nasal congestion