If you have allergies or asthma, spring can be a challenging time of the year, with its big temperature and humidity changes, and pollen — all of which can contribute to allergies and asthma. Cleveland Allergy and Asthma Center has a few tips to help ease your symptoms so that you can once again enjoy the spring season.

• Avoid being out on cold or windy days. If you must be out, cover your mouth with a scarf or a cold weather/allergen mask.

• When cleaning, use caution with household cleaning products. Make sure the area to be cleaned is well ventilated. Never mix cleansers such as bleach, disinfectants, and deodorizers with ammonia products, either in the bucket or on the surface to be cleaned.

• It's best if non-allergic family members or others do the cleaning. Try to be out of the house during all cleaning, especially during carpet cleaning.

• Avoid being outside when fertilizers and pesticides are applied to the lawns, trees, or shrubs in your neighborhood. If you garden, arrange for someone else to remove the leaves and branches that may have collected in your yard or hedges. This type of garbage usually has mold and other particles that can trigger your asthma.

• To avoid getting grass and tree pollen indoors, keep your windows closed and use air conditioning.

• Limit your outdoor activities during peak pollen times of the day: for grass pollens, this is afternoon and early evening, while ragweed pollens are most prevalent during early midday.

• After spending time outside, take a shower to wash pollen off your skin and hair and change your clothes.

• Cover your mattresses and pillows with special covers and wash all bedding every week in hot (130° F) water, if you are allergic to dust mites.

• Your healthcare provider may recommend additional medications, therapies, or other environmental controls. Exposure to pollen can make allergy, asthma and/or eczema symptoms worse in some people. To avoid these problems, follow the above steps to decrease or eliminate exposure.