( BLACK PR WIRE)( January 31, 2009) Another winter has come and gone and in its place we are seeing sunlight, new leaves and fresh flowers popping up in our neighborhoods. Unfortunately for some, the arrival of spring means sniffling, sneezing, post nasal drip, watery eyes and a host of other ailments. That’s because this is the season when allergies spring into action. More than 20 percent of Americans are sensitive to environmental allergens and many of them are affected by the increased irritants that emerge when spring is in the air1. Studies show that African American children are disproportionately more sensitive to environmental allergens than children of any other race. In fact, 52% of African American children are affected by allergies in comparison to only 41% of Caucasian children2. Although it is difficult to get rid of all of the irritants that affect allergy-prone people, there are some simple steps you can take to protect your family. To help cut down on allergy attacks, try doing one or all of the following1: Spring Clean. Do a thorough cleaning inside your home. Shake out those couch cushions, shampoo those rugs, dust everything. Through the course of the winter things like windows, bookshelves and air conditioning vents can collect dust and mold that can trigger allergy symptoms. Avoid pollen. Close the windows in your home when pollen counts are high. Avoid using window fans that can draw pollen inside. Minimize outdoor activity when pollen counts are high. Meteorologists at most local news stations make it a point to include the daily pollen count in their weather reports at this time of the year. Another way to find out what the pollen count is in your area is to log on to www.pollen.com. This web site is dedicated to providing accurate allergy forecasts for the entire United States. Be prepared. Take allergy medications at least 30 minutes before you go outside. Consult with an allergist/immunologist to ensure medications are helping you or when you suffer reactions to medications. Wash n’ dry right. Wash bedding weekly in hot water. Dry laundry indoors – sheets hanging on outside lines can collect pollen. De-pollinate yourself. Shower and wash your hair before bed in order to wash off pollen that has collected on your skin and hair. Keep an eye on your pets. Keep pets off furniture and out of the bedroom. Pollen can cling to dogs and cats who have been outside. Drive and breathe safe. During peak pollen season, keep your car windows closed. Use the air conditioning setting. Do not use the fan setting in your car as that draws pollen-laced outside air into your car. Be sure to point vents away from your face. Following these simple steps can help in greatly reducing exposure to allergens that can trigger uncomfortable side-effects in people who are sensitive to these kinds of environmental irritants. If you continue to suffer from allergy attacks or if the symptoms get increasingly worse, be sure to consult your physician as there may be an underlying cause or medications that can help better control the allergies.