Ah, spring is in the air and so are billions of grains of pollen released from grasses, trees and flowering plants. They're the culprit behind seasonal allergies, the "hay fever" many people experience with its stuffy and runny nose, sneezing, coughing and itching.

But allergies don't have to keep you from firing up the lawn mower, trimming trees, working in the garden or building that new patio. Ewen Tseng, M.D., otolaryngologist on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center at Frisco, offers these tips to avoid allergens when you're doing your spring landscaping:

- If you've been prescribed an oral antihistamine by your doctor, be sure to take it before heading outdoors.

- Wear protective clothing, including gloves, to reduce exposure to allergens and avoid transferring pollen from your hands to your eyes and nose.

- Wear a mask. "Think of the nose as a filter," says Dr. Tseng. "For seasonal allergies, the nose is the first line of defense."

- Wash your hands, change clothes and shower after you're finished.

"An alternative to wearing a mask is nasal irrigation with saline [saltwater] to rinse allergens from the nose it's like cleaning your own air filter," adds Dr. Tseng. Irrigation kits are available at pharmacies and grocery stores.

You could attempt to "allergy-proof" your yard and garden by selecting plants that pollinate through insects rather than by releasing pollen. Unfortunately, you can't avoid the wind-blown pollens from other trees and plants, which often travel long