Each spring ushers in a yellow-green flood of pollen, and Atlanta begins to resemble a pastry that some giant chef has sprinkled yellowish green powdered sugar all over. So with the average pollen count in Atlanta doubling over the last 30 days, adjusting the clocks Sunday isn't the only changes allergy and asthma sufferers have on their To-Do list.

Though the yellow pine pollen that coats the city isn't usually the cause of all the sneezing in Atlanta, it does signal the start of seasonal allergies. For the next several weeks, there will be a few things that allergy sufferers can do to reduce their headaches, congestion, sneezing and other symptoms.

Though staying inside for the next month isn't something most people can or want to do, what can be done is limiting the time you spend outside. This not only reduces your exposure but also limits how much pollen you'll bring back inside.

If you are going to spend significant time outdoors, an allergy mask can dramatically reduce your exposure. There are a variety of styles from the thin, light Silk Mask to the more effective respirators. Regardless of what you select, each offer some level of protection from pollen and other particle allergens.

Another helpful tip is to make sure you take your shoes off at the door. Ultimately, it is a much easier to keep your home free of pollen if you aren't tracking it all through the house. Same goes with your clothes. If you are particularly sensitive, change your clothes once you get home to further avoid spreading pollen through the house.

After spending a winter with the windows closed, spring seems like a natural time to let a fresh, cool breeze in. To allow air to circulate without allowing so much of the pollen in, a window filter is a great device. And since REP tweeked the design of their filters, you can now swap out the filter media instead of having to buy all new filters.

Lastly, you might want to consider nasal irrigation. While constantly rinsing can create problems for some people, flushing your sinuses during allergy season is a great way to clear away pollen that has become trapped in your nasal passages. And unlike many OTC drugs, there are no side effects.

While I know lament the absence of sunny days, I hope that this spring brings plenty of wet weather! Rain not only washes away the pollen that has accumulated and effectively lowers the pollen count, but as my personal favorite, it helps delay our seemingly annual drought! Plus, I think we'd all like to avoid looking like this guy to my right.