Spring Allergies + Dry Air: Why Hydration Matters

By Krista Hillis February 23, 2026

hydration

If you suffer from spring allergies, you're not alone.

More than 1 in 3 adults and 1 in 4 children suffer from seasonal allergies, resulting in millions of missed work and school days annually. While many individuals react to airborne particles, mainly tree and grass pollen, symptoms are often exacerbated by dry indoor air.

When the air is dry, it prevents mucus membranes from staying fluid, reducing the immune system's ability to filter out pollen. If you suffer from dry, itchy eyes, a scratchy throat, and increased nasal congestion, you know this tale all too well.

One strategy that can help?

Staying hydrated. Now is the time to start implementing daily hydration habits before your allergy symptoms begin. Here is how to drink more water daily to help manage spring and dry air allergies while improving long-term hydration habits.

The Link Between Spring, Allergy Season, and Dry Air

Although many people experience allergies year-round, spring is the primary season for environmental allergies. It's also when people start spending more time outdoors, so exposure naturally increases. As temperatures rise, the release of airborne pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds can trigger immune responses.

Why? Because this season also creates a dry indoor environment. While temperatures are rising, the air still holds low moisture content from the winter. As the air warms in response to spring temperatures, residual heat from heating systems causes the small amount of moisture left in the air to dissipate. Humidity drops, and indoor air becomes incredibly dry.

Spring allergy symptoms worsen in these dry conditions. While pollen triggers the initial allergic reaction, low indoor humidity prevents your body from clearing these allergens effectively. This indoor environment increases the risk of dehydration. Dry air causes moisture to evaporate quickly, which often leads to fluid loss.

There are several steps to help manage your symptoms. Start with your indoor humidity and hydration habits. Invest in a humidifier and increase water intake. Dehydration prompts the immune system to overreact, increasing histamine production, which is why it is important to drink more water.

Practical Hydration Habits

Establishing easy-to-follow hydration habits is important to improving allergy symptoms.

Here are some suggestions:

Create hydration triggers that become second-nature. For example, drink a glass of water when you first wake up, one after your cup of coffee, and after your walk. Start with one trigger and add to it once daily habits begin to form.
To enhance water, experiment with flavors and fusions that aren't high in sugar, such as fruit infusions. Here are some delicious recipes to get you started.
Carry a reusable bottle — keep it visible and accessible at all times. For example, place it on your desk at work. Mark levels you need to hit at certain times to reach your incremental goals.
Use technology to help you stay hydrated throughout the day. Set phone/app reminders to stay on track and encourage you to take sips at regular intervals.

Build a Low-Effort Hydration Setup

Access to quality water is crucial to increasing intake. That is why you want to focus on your current hydration setup. For some, accessibility and convenience matter most. For others, the assurance that the water they're drinking is clean is most imperative.

The first step is to determine the right setup for you, starting with your space. To create a hydration station, a cooler or countertop unit may be best, especially in areas like your home office or gym corner, where a compact, convenient solution is needed.

For those seeking access to the highest-quality water, there are reverse osmosis (RO) systems for deep filtration. When making targeted upgrades, consider a single housing undersink filtration system. These systems are ideal for homes, apartments, utility rooms, and RVs, offering powerful 3-in-1 filtration.

Get Excited About Water This Allergy Season

Quality hydration is imperative year-round, whether you have allergies or not. However, if you suffer from spring allergies, being mindful of your water intake is especially important.

Taking action now can help you minimize symptoms and support optimal hydration and overall wellness.

To create the ultimate hydration station, you need to understand your options based on your preferences and space constraints. Brio can help you determine the best solution, offering a wide range of systems and solutions in various sizes.

Contact the Brio team to discuss next steps and create your hydration station before seasonal allergies begin.

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