Vital KC

“The earth laughs in flowers.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Kansas City weather is a real roller coaster, so depending on when you read this, spring might feel just around the corner, or many miles away. Either way, the calendar tells us that March 20 marks the first official day of spring in 2026. Let’s start our spring reset together.

Check your medicine cabinet

Toss any expired pills, ointment or sprays, and gather up unused prescription medications. Many pharmacies offer safe disposal services.
Experts say it’s especially important to get rid of any unused opioids, as doing so reduces the risk that someone could misuse them.

Get ready for spring allergies. If pollen makes your eyes itch and your nose run, consider stocking up on the following:

• Soft tissues
• Saline nasal spray
• Antihistamines: Available as pills, liquids and nasal sprays. Common brand-name options include Zyrtec and Allegra.
  They’re commonly used to treat watery, itchy eyes and runny noses. Some types might cause drowsiness.
• Decongestants: Available as pills, liquids and nasal sprays. Brand-name options include Zyrtec-D, Claritin-D, and Allegra-D. These can be used to reduce nasal congestion and pressure. However, people with high blood pressure, heart disease, glaucoma or hyperthyroidism, should avoid decongestants unless advised otherwise by a healthcare professional. Regular use of nasal decongestant sprays – such as Afrin or generic versions – for more than 3-5 days is not recommended as it can lead to rebound congestion.
• Corticosteroid: Typically available as nasal sprays or brand-name options include Rhinocort, Flonase and Nasonex. These medications can help prevent and treat nasal congestion, runny noses and sneezing.

Avoid a sunburn this spring by replacing any expired sunscreen with a new bottle. Dermatologists recommend using a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays, with an SPF of 30 or higher.

Update your calendar

Enroll today Are you signed up for the University Health patient portal, called myUHealth? It’s not only a secure, helpful way to send messages to your provider, but it also has a list of any scheduled, upcoming appointments. Need to sign up? Click the button to complete a self-enrollment form.

Secure your home workspace

Personal security experts recommend that you shred any documents that contain sensitive information, such as your social security number or bank account.

Don’t have a shredder? Here are two upcoming shredding events in the Kansas City metro:

The AARP is teaming up with the City of Kansas City, Missouri for a document shredding event. It will take place Saturday, April 25, 2026 from 8:00 am to 11:00 am at South Broadland Presbyterian Church, 7850 Holmes Road, KC, MO 64131.

Lee’s Summit’s RecycleFEST also takes place on Saturday, April 25. From 9:00 am until noon, Lee’s Summit residents can recycle hazardous items and shred up to four grocery bags of documents. The event will be held at the City Maintenance Facility, 1971 SE Hamblen Road, Lee’s Summit, MO 64082.