Talking spring allergies with U of M
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (04/18/2025) — As winter fades and spring arrives, so does allergy season. The runny nose, sneezing and watery eyes that come with spring allergies can sometimes dim the excitement of the new season.
Neal Godse, MD, with the University of Minnesota Medical School and M Health Fairview, talks about spring allergy symptoms and steps to keep them under control.
Q: What are the main causes of spring allergies?
Dr. Godse: Allergies are an inflammatory response that our bodies create in response to some external irritant. Early spring allergies are typically caused by tree pollens — commonly birch, maple and oak — and, later in the season, by grass pollens. Molds can also grow in damp, snow-melt environments and are another common source of spring allergies.
Q: What are the most common symptoms of spring allergies?
Dr. Godse: Runny nose, sneezing, itchy/watery eyes, nasal congestion — difficulty breathing through the nose, or a ”stuffy nose” — facial pressure and headaches are classic issues that people with spring allergies face. This can also affect sleep, create fatigue and cause brain fog when severe.
Q: What steps can you take to minimize your exposure to allergy triggers?
Dr. Godse: It can be difficult to avoid exposure to spring allergens. With the weather getting better, people want to be outside! Some helpful strategies include staying indoors with air conditioning on days with high pollen counts, using an air filter to reduce airborne pollen counts in your home, keeping windows closed at night and using a mask when gardening or doing yard work.
Q: What are the available options for managing allergy symptoms?
Dr. Godse: There are a number of good options for treating allergies. Nasal saline can help flush irritating allergens out of the nose. Oral and topical antihistamines block histamine, one of the key inflammatory chemicals released in response to allergens. Nasal steroid sprays are powerful anti-inflammatory medications that work very well to reduce symptoms. Be careful of decongestant sprays: these can help with symptoms, but can damage the nose over the long term.
Q: How does your work at the University of Minnesota advance health in Minnesota?
Dr. Godse: Our research at the University of Minnesota Medical School is focused on better understanding how issues like nasal allergies play into chronic inflammatory sinus diseases and how we can treat these issues in a more comprehensive and targeted way.
Dr. Neal Godse is an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School and a rhinologist and skull base surgeon at M Health Fairview. His research focuses on better understanding and treating patients with cancer of the nasal cavity and skull base. He is also interested in the novel applications of emerging technologies to patients with these issues and chronic inflammatory sinus disease.
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