Ahhh summer. Many would argue that it is the best season of all. You can go outside without heavy clothes. The major rains have passed. The kids are happy and out of school. You can swim and go camping. It’s a perfect season! Well, it would be perfect if a good portion of the population wasn’t experiencing summer allergies! Here are seven ways we’ve found to overcome your summer allergies and enjoy the season to the fullest.
1. Vacuum the Right Way
Allergies are an outdoor thing, right? Not so much. When the weather is nice your windows are open, which means the outside has come inside. And, vacuuming is a proactive way to beat allergens, but you can’t do it without the right tools. According to WebMD, “Make sure you have a HEPA filter. Some allergens are so small that they pass right through a regular vacuum filter.”
2. Dry Your Laundry Indoors
While most of us love the smell of freshly line-dried laundry, allergy sufferers should avoid this practice. While the sheets may smell wonderful, they are also subject to pollen in the air leaving you sleeping with a top allergen. WebMD says, “Don’t air-dry laundry. Clothing left outside will pick up pollen and mold. Use the clothes dryer instead.”
3. Ditch Your Shoes
Bringing your shoes in the house it is like inviting in allergens as party guests. Each day you walk across fallen petals, fresh grass and other pollen-laden things. Don’t take them inside with you. Instead house shoes in a mud room outside of your main living area. WebMD recommends that you, “Take your shoes off before you go in the house. That way pollens or other triggers won’t get tracked in.”
4. Shower at Night
Many people enjoy a nice, hot shower in the morning as part of their routine, but during allergy season, consider switching to night showers. Why? Well, according to Shape, “You’ll wash away the allergens that stick to your hair and face, so they won’t rub off on your pillow and irritate your eyes and nose.”
5. Consider the Air You Breathe
Have you ever thought of adding an air purifier to your home? It’s a very practical investment, especially for allergy sufferers. Shape says, “Almost half of seasonal allergy sufferers are also bothered by irritants such as fragrances and cleaning products, according to a recent study in the journal Indoor Air. To breathe easier, invest in a HEPA air purifier, which filters out aggravating indoor pollutants.”
6. Find Out What’s Bothering You
There are lots of different types of allergies. Diagnosing exactly what is causing your allergies can be a major step toward relief! According to LIVESCIENCE, “People with allergic rhinitis may be sensitive to specific types of pollen from trees, grasses, weeds and mold spores. Trees release pollens first, usually from late winter into spring or early summer, depending on the location. Grasses typically pollinate next, in late spring and early summer. Weeds — such as ragweed, the most common cause of hay fever — pollinate in late summer and early fall. These plants produce large quantities of pollen, and the grains are light, so they can be carried by the wind for hundreds of miles and can be easily inhaled.”
7. Be Aware of the Pollen Count
As seasoned allergy sufferers know, some days are just worse than others. For those who are sensitive to pollen, those days are usually when the pollen count is high. While you can’t completely avoid going out and being active on pollen heavy days, you can try to limit your exposure by checking the pollen forecast.
Certain websites like Pollen.com https://www.pollen.com/ offer tools like the Allergy Outlook. If you enter your default location is will tell you about the pollen level trends and seasonal notes. This information should help you choose whether going outside and being active on a particular day is going to be a good choice.
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If your allergies are out of control, there is always the option to talk to your primary care provider. They are knowledgeable and can point you in the right direction when it comes to relief. If you would like to book an appointment with a DMC Primary Care provider, click below.
