Is It Possible to Hide From Allergens? Is there anything allergy Suffers can do?
If you are among the 35 million-plus people in the U.S. who suffer from seasonal allergies, it’s not news to you that the allergy season has arrived early in many parts of the county - especially here in the south. Everything, cars, porches, windows, etc. are covered in a yellow coating. Your nose, eyes, chest and head know it. This spring’s burst of buds and blossoms and the bumper crop of airborne pollen and mold spores are due to winter’s heavy rains and higher than normal temperatures.
The heavy rains and higher temperatures have produced an impressive growth of vegetation, which is wonderful to enjoy if you don’t have allergies. But if you have a history of allergies or allergic asthma, you need to be careful. Pollen, mold and dust mites in your home can trigger allergies. This causes the membranes in the nose to become inflamed, causing sneezing, congestion, runny nose and itchiness in the roof of the mouth, throat, eyes, and nose. Having allergic asthma is more serious and can be life-threatening. This causes the passages in the airways to become inflamed and swollen, making it difficult to breathe.
It’s impossible to hide from pollen and mold since both are carried by the wind. Pollens are only found outdoors, molds are found both indoors and outdoors. Outdoor molds can be found in the soil, vegetation and rotting wood; you’ll find indoor molds in bathrooms, attics, carpets and upholstery.
Is there anything allergy suffers can do to minimize their discomfort? Look at some of the suggestions below.
1. Change the time and location of your exercise routine. Avoid exercising in the early morning between the hours of 5 and 10 since that’s when the pollen is usually emitted. Exercise indoors whenever possible.
2.Consider swimming. Swimming is an excellent exercise for people with allergies. If you live near a beach, the purest concentrations of air in the ten to 15 inch layer right above the water. The gentle humidity keeps your airways from drying out.
3.Ask your physician if he or she can recommend a long-acting over-the-counter antihistamine medication.
4. Where do we spend most of your time? The bedroom is a place of refuge for most people. One of the most common allergens present in our homes is the lowly dust mite. Dust mites are microscopic insects, which thrive mostly in dusty, humid environments and can be found lurking in almost all areas in our homes.
One of the best things people can do is look at the allergen specific products on the market. Mattress and pillow covers that keep harmful dust mite allergens from escaping from bedding can be helpful. The fibrous materials in your pillows and mattresses can be a haven for these microscopic dust mites. Choose your beddings well. Stay away from down, kapok, feather comforters, and pillows. It might require some investment but it will be well worth it.
Wash your sheets in hot water every week, your mattress pads and synthetic blankets every two weeks and your pillows every month. This will keep the dust mites away!
5. Keeping a room clean can either prevent or bring on an allergy attack. Why is this so? Keeping a room clean can eliminate dust from accumulating; the activities involved in the process such as mopping and sweeping the floor can undoubtedly raise dust. You should clean once every week using a vacuum cleaner and a damp cloth. If you want to use furniture polish, dampen your rag before spraying the polish on it. Never spray furniture polish directly on the furniture. The initial contact just spreads the dust. Also wear a facemask while you clean.
6. Carpets are an excellent nesting ground for dust mites. Pollen is carried in from your shoes and ground right into the carpet, so it is better to opt instead for bare floors.
7. In with the curtains, out with the Venetians. Venetian blinds, trap dust, curtains are washable. If this is not possible, add vacuuming or cleaning the Venetian blinds to your weekly cleaning.
8. Do away with dust catchers as much as possible.
9. Bathrooms are the worst for mold - high humidity makes it grow. Clean your bathroom once a week and use bleach and water 50-50 to keep the mold under control. Mold is often found around the tub. Pour straight bleach on the mold and let set for a while, then wipe.
9. Run your air conditioner or dehumidifier during hot seasons (especially spring and fall) to keep the humidity level low. Dust mites thrive in areas where humidity is high. Your humidity level should be maintained under 40% but above 25%. If you have an air purifier, use it to keep your rooms dust free.
