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Author: Debbie Humphrey

Itchy, watery eyes, sniffles, sneezing, and congestion are a few annoying symptoms of seasonal allergies that negatively affect people of all ages but can be especially problematic for seniors.

Rosie, an active senior we assist at Home Helpers, suffers from allergies to trees, grasses, weeds, and cats, so she routinely receives allergy shots and takes medications to manage her symptoms and stay comfortably active.

Considering our warm Florida climate, allergens of various types can plague sufferers year-round, which is why I wanted more information concerning seniors, seasonal allergies, and ways to stifle annoying, uncomfortable symptoms.

Dr. Manan Shah, MD, ENT, at Wyndly, a medical practice in Florida that specializes in allergies and ear, nose, and throat conditions, explains, “Seasonal allergies typically refer to allergies that are triggered by pollen. Pollen is only released by plants during certain times of the year. Because of this, these allergies only flare up throughout specific months. The primary producers of pollen in Florida are grasses, trees, and weeds.”

Because we do not typically experience cold winters in Florida which would prevent plants from pollinating, there are pollens from different plant sources that occur throughout the year.

The most common Florida allergens include:

• Ragweed
• Sorrel
• Oak
• Pine
• River Birch
• Bayberry
• Elm
• Maple

Dr. Shah confirms that in the West Pasco and Pinellas County areas, ragweed is prominent, along with dog fennel, oak, pine, sorrel, and dock.

Typical allergy symptoms that occur in Florida often vary from person to person. These symptoms include:

• Stuffy or runny nose
• Itchy, red, watery eyes
• Congestion
• Headaches
• Sneezing
• Brain fog
• Post-nasal drip
• Aggravated asthma symptoms

Dr. Shah suggests the following tips to address allergies in West Pasco and Pinellas Counties.

Limit Exposure

“An effective method of decreasing your symptoms is limiting your exposure to the pollens that are triggering your allergies. While pollen can be difficult to avoid, there are ways to decrease your exposure to pollen in Florida.”

• Check the pollen count daily. The mornings and afternoons are when pollen counts are usually higher than in the evenings. Monitor pollen levels and if they are high, limit the time you are out during the day.
• Trim trees, mow the lawn, and pull weeds. By managing lawn and landscaping maintenance in these ways, you can minimize the pollen around your home.
• Wear a mask and/or glasses outdoors. Most of us have face masks post-COVID, so wearing one should not be a big deal when you go outdoors. A face mask will help prevent pollen from gaining access to your airways, and glasses will keep pollen from getting into your eyes.
• Clean regularly. Pollen is sticky and will cling to your clothing and make its way into your home. Regularly clean your home environment, launder your clothing, and bathe after being outdoors to wash it away.
• Close windows. Open windows allow pollen to get into your home. Close windows and run the air conditioner instead.
• Install a HEPA filter. Installing a HEPA filter on your air conditioner can help reduce pollen from circulating throughout your home.

Medications

“Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are widely available in Florida, and they provide short-term relief from your allergy symptoms. If you find that antihistamines, nasal sprays, and eye drops don’t provide enough relief from your seasonal allergies, you can look into allergy treatments that will provide long-term relief instead of just masking your symptoms.”

Sublingual Immunotherapy

“If you want lifelong relief from your seasonal allergies in Florida, sublingual immunotherapy is the best solution. Sublingual immunotherapy involves exposing your immune system to small doses of the allergens that trigger your allergies. Through this exposure, your body becomes desensitized to your allergies, providing long-term relief. Sublingual immunotherapy is just as effective as allergy shots, but it can also be taken from the comfort of your home.”

Dr. Shah also recommends that allergy sufferers get an allergy test to determine what pollen specifically triggers allergy symptoms.

Home Helpers caregivers are highly trained to perform a variety of in-home care and specialized care services to assist seniors who may or may not experience allergies. If we can help you or a senior loved one who suffers from allergies or other physical or mental health conditions, I offer a FREE Consultation to assess needs and create a customized care plan to make life easier.

We, at Home Helpers® Clearwater, are honored to have been ranked among the Activated Insights Top 100 Leaders in Experience for home care providers in 2025 and to have received the Best of Home Care® Provider of Choice, the Best of Home Care® Employer of Choice, and the Best of Home Care® Leader in Experience Awards in 2025, along with the Caring Super Star 2025 Award.

Home Helpers Clearwater proudly serves male and female seniors, veterans, and differently abled individuals in Bayonet Point, Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, Dunedin, Gulfport, Holiday, Hudson, Largo, Madeira Beach, New Port Richey, North Redington Beach, Oldsmar, Palm Harbor, Pass A Grille, Pass A Grille Beach, Port Richey, Redington Shores, Safety Harbor, Saint Petersburg, Seminole, South Pasadena, Tarpon Springs, Tierra Verde, Treasure Island, Trinity, and surrounding areas. Home Helpers®…we are Making Life Easier® 727.942.2539

Source:

Wyndly