Springtime Allergies
Spring means flower buds and blooming trees - and for the millions of people who have springtime allergies, it means sneezing, congestion, runny noses, and other signs and symptoms. In the early spring, the major culprit is wind-borne pollen from trees. In late spring, grasses start to cause trouble. The worst springtime allergy signs and symptoms occur during hot, dry, or windy days when there’s a lot of pollen and mold in the air. But before you settle for plastic flowers and artificial turf, try these simple and effective strategies. You can’t completely avoid springtime allergies - but you can reduce your signs and symptoms by being prepared. Here are some tips that can help.
Reduce Your Exposure to Pollen
There are a number of things that you can do to reduce your exposures to your allergy triggers:
• Stay indoors on dry, windy days - the best time to go outside is after a good rain, which helps clear pollen from the air.
• Delegate lawn mowing, weed pulling and other gardening chores that stir up allergens.
• Remove clothes you’ve worn outside, you may also want to shower to rinse pollen from your skin and hair.
• Ban your pets from your bed or couch - pollen clings to pet fur.
• Don’t hang laundry outside - pollen can stick to sheets and towels.
• If you do outside chores, wear a dust mask.
Take Extra Care When Pollen Counts are High
Seasonal allergy signs and symptoms can flare up when pollen counts are high. These steps can help you reduce your exposure:
• Check your local TV or radio station, your local newspaper or the Internet for pollen forecasts and current pollen levels.
• If high pollen counts are forecasted, start taking allergy medications before your symptoms start.
• Close doors and windows at night or any other time when pollen counts are high.
• Avoid outdoor activity in the early morning when pollen counts are highest.
Keep Indoor Air Clean
There’s no miracle product that can eliminate all allergens from the air in your home, but these can all help:
• Run the air conditioning in your home and car.
• Use a micron allergy-grade filter in your ventilation system.
• Keep indoor air dry with a dehumidifier.
• Use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in your bedroom.
• Clean floors with a vacuum that has a small-particle or HEPA filter.
Clean Up Your Act
Spring cleaning is a great way to reduce allergens in your home. In addition to your regular spring cleaning routine, these few added steps can help if you’re allergic to dust mites.
• Encase your mattresses, box springs and pillows in allergy-proof covers.
• Wash sheets and blankets in water heated to at least 130 F.
• Vacuum carpets weekly.
• Replace carpeting with laminate flooring or another hard material that won’t collect dust mites and other allergens, especially in your bedroom.
When to See a Doctor
For many people, avoiding allergens and using over-the-counter medications are enough to relieve symptoms. But if your seasonal allergies are particularly bothersome, you may need skin tests or blood test to find out exactly what allergens trigger your symptoms. That can help you determine what steps you need to take to avoid specific triggers, and it can help your doctor determine what treatments are likely to work best for you.