Spring is here! But for millions of Americans, this brings not only the beautiful sights of nature, but seasonal allergies. Although these cannot generally be “cured”, there are steps that can be taken to reduce your suffering from such allergies.
What is it about spring that causes such allergies? A key element is the greatly increased pollen in the air, released by trees and plants. For some people, breathing in this pollen can trigger an allergic reaction.
Although it’s well-nigh impossible to completely avoid pollen, the risk of allergic reactions can be reduced by paying attention to daily pollen count forecasts: on those days with a high count, try to spend less time outdoors, and keep your home and car doors and windows closed.
Other tips
- Make sure to use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter: this reduces the likelihood that you will breathe in pollen indoors as you vacuum
- Check that your home furnace’s air filter is replaced as recommended
- Wash your clothes often in the spring
If you absolutely need to spend time outdoors when pollen counts are high;
- Try to do so in the early morning (when pollen counts tend to be low), and avoid being outside around noon when counts are at their peak
- Take allergy medications in advance
- Consider wearing a well-fitted, suitable mask (eg an N95-rated mask)
As always, feel free to contact us for advice on managing your allergies!
Recommended further reading from reliable sources:
https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/health-encyclopedia/he.allergies-avoiding-outdoor-triggers.rt1216
https://acaai.org/allergies/allergic-conditions/seasonal-allergies/
