As you get outdoors and enjoy the hot weather, you may experience seasonal allergies. Don’t let your sneezing, congestion, and watery eyes prevent you from enjoying summer.

1. Talk to a healthcare provider on how to treat your allergies
   If you are experiencing flu symptoms and don't know what to do, the best thing to do is reach out to your doctor. Maryland Health Connection plans cover your health care provider visits, prescriptions, laboratory tests, and more. When meeting with your doctor, discuss possible treatments to help with your seasonal allergies. You can also ask to take an allergy test and see what allergies you might have and what symptoms come with each.
2. Take over-the-counter medication
   Go to your local pharmacy for any over-the-counter medications that can help with your allergies. The most common over-the-counter medications for allergies are Zyrtec, Claritin, Allega, Xyzal, and Benadryl . If you are not sure which medication to get, ask your doctor.
3. Keep your indoor space clean
   Keeping your indoor space clean is key to preventing allergy triggers. Make sure to keep any surface in your house clean using disinfectants. Keep your windows and doors shut to help prevent pollen from getting into your home. When coming back inside your home, try to take a shower to help rinse off the pollen particles off your body and hair. After the shower, wash your clothes to remove outdoor residue.
4. Pay attention to the weather in your area
   Before heading outside it’s always best to check the weather. You want to make sure the pollen counts are low and that it's not dry and windy. These weather conditions can trigger your allergies.