Many people are unable to fully enjoy the beauty of spring because they suffer from mild to severe springtime allergies. It’s estimated that up to 60 million people in the United States alone experience springtime allergies (which are typically triggered by pollen or mold). If you’re one of these people, here are a few tips for controlling your symptoms this spring.
Avoid Being Outdoors on Windy Days
When it’s windy, pollen makes its way into the air and gets blown all around. If you’re outdoors on a windy day, you’re more likely to be exposed to a larger number of allergy-inducing particles. If you’re struggling with allergy symptoms, try to stay indoors on windy days. Choose calmer days to go outdoors and soak up the sun.
Pay Attention to Pollen Counts
If you have springtime allergies, it’s in your best interest to pay close attention to pollen counts in your area. You can check your local radio station, newspaper or the internet to follow pollen forecasts. If the forecast shows inflated pollen counts, begin taking allergy medications a few days before the forecasted increase. That way you can get on top of your symptoms before they get out of control.
Close Your Windows at Night
It feels nice to open the windows on a breezy spring evening, but this may not be wise if you’re suffering from allergies. Pollen counts tend to be higher at night than other times of the day, so it’s best to close your doors and windows when you retire to bed and let your air conditioning system cool your house down.
Change Your Clothes After Being Outside
If you have severe springtime allergies, you can control your symptoms by removing your clothing and changing into clean clothes after being outside. Pollen and other pollutants can cling to your clothes and trigger symptoms throughout the day. You can minimize these symptoms by simply changing into a new outfit after being outside for a while.
Invest in an Air Purifier
Unfortunately, outdoor air comes into your home every time you open the doors or windows. If you find that you’re experiencing allergy symptoms regularly even when you’re inside, invest in an air purifier. It will help suck in pollutants and send clean air back into circulation. You may also want to use a dehumidifier to keep the air in your home dry. Molds thrive in moist environments, but can’t grow in dry environments.
Pay Someone to Do Your Yard Work
Yard work is one of the most common triggers of springtime allergies. Instead of mowing your lawn or picking weeds, why not hire a teenager in your neighborhood to do it for you? Or simply delegate yard work chores to someone else in your family who doesn’t experience springtime allergies.
Work Out Indoors
It’s not much fun to exercise outdoors if it causes you to become a mess of sniffles and itchy eyes. When pollen counts are high, working out indoors can help minimize your allergy symptoms. Newport Medical and Wellness Center offers a variety of helpful exercise classes that can keep you fit and healthy while minimizing your exposure to allergens.
Allergies affect many people, but you can take steps to reduce them. Follow these tips to enjoy the spring season while minimizing your allergy symptoms.
