5 Simple steps to Survive the Allergy Season.
Spring is in the air, and with it comes the beginning of the allergy season. Most allergies are caused by sensitivity to pollen grains from grass, trees, or weeds. According to WebMD, 1 in 5 adults in America experience allergy symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion, watery eyes, sore throat, and wheezing. Just walk outside on any windy day during the early spring, and you will notice a yellow coating of pollen grains on parked cars, outdoor furniture, or any surface you touch. Pollen grains may seem to be a nightmare for allergy sufferers, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are 5 simple things you can do to survive the allergy season.
- Protect yourself: – The best way to avoid exposure to pollen grains is to prevent them from getting in contact with your body surfaces. Pollen grains naturally cling to surfaces, and reducing the area of your body exposed to pollen will go a long way in reducing your allergy symptoms. When outdoors, wearing a hat, sunglasses, a top layer of long sleeved clothing, and shoes to protect your hair, eyes, arms, and legs is recommended. These should be removed when going indoors to prevent carrying pollen grains into your home.
- Wash them off: – Pollen grains are tiny, and it’s almost impossible to spend time outdoors and not have some pollen grains stuck to your skin surfaces. It’s important therefore to wash off the pollen grains that could be stuck on your skin. Rinsing the face and arms is recommended, and if you were not wearing a hat, you will also have to wash your hair. It’s important to wash off pollen grains as soon as you enter your home, to avoid spreading them throughout the house.
- Do your laundry frequently: Pollen grains usually stick to the clothing we wear outdoors, and can be inadvertently spread throughout the house. Frequently washing clothing that was worn outdoors, and other materials that have a high probability of pollen exposure such as bath towels, and pillow cases will help manage allergy symptoms by reducing exposure.
- Keep your windows closed: – that cool breeze outside may feel good, but pollen grains can be carried over long distances by the wind. An open window can allow pollen grains to enter your home or car, and this could be disastrous for an allergy sufferer. It is recommended to use an air conditioner equipped with a filter to be safe. It’s also a good idea to frequently check the filter on the air conditioner to make sure it stays clean. Cars are also equipped with cabin air filters and these should be changed annually, or as recommended by the manufacturer.
- Stay inside when pollen counts are high: – There are multiple information resources available for allergy sufferers that alert them on days and times when pollen grains are high, such as the weather channel, news reports, and the internet. As a rule of thumb, pollen grain levels are usually high on sunny, warm, windy days, between the hours of 5am and 10am.
There are multiple medications, eye drops, allergy tests and injections that can be used to manage allergies. This article just discusses a few simple steps anyone can take to protect themselves without breaking the bank. It’s important to discuss your allergy symptoms with your doctor to determine if medical treatment is necessary, and to choose which medication is best for you. For more helpful health tips, or to learn more about our services, please call us today at (610) 488 -CARE, or visit our website www.greaterhomecare.com. Stay safe, and enjoy your Spring!
