When it concerns seasonal allergic reactions, the majority of people right away think of the pollen explosion in the spring. However an itchy throat, teary and red eyes, sniffles, and sneezing aren’t relegated to April and May alone. When the leaves start to fall and the air cools, a host of allergens can cause the same set of symptoms.
How to Fight Allergies at Home
Rid Yourself of Ragweed
A single ragweed plant can produce up to 1 billion grains of pollen per season. This yellow flowering weed blossoms in August however causes allergic symptoms well into the fall, till the first freeze kills the plant. It grows across the country but is most prevalent in rural areas of the East and Midwest. Roughly 75 percent of people who suffer spring allergic reactions will also be impacted by ragweed pollen, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
See also: How to Know If Your Having an Allergic Reaction to Food
See also: How to Know If You Have a Soy Allergy
Master plan
Screen your local pollen count. The majority of local papers and TELEVISION news sites release a day-to-day report. Stay inside as much as possible, specifically during peak hours (usually mid-morning to early afternoon). If you need to go outside, wear a painter’s mask to filter pollen.
Keep home and car windows totally closed. Take off your shoes and jacket before entering your home. You don’t wish to track in any pollen that you’ve picked up outside. Vacuum carpets and upholstery regularly.
Wash your clothing, linens, and curtains routinely. Do not line dry your laundry outdoors. Shower your animals– especially outdoor dogs and felines– regularly.
Move Over, Mold & Mildew
These fungis prosper both outdoors and indoors. They grow from and produce spores that, like pollen, are spread by the wind or indoor air. Mold and mildew tend to grow year-round. In the fall, they grow on damp fallen leaves and compost piles. They thrive in wet areas inside like basements, bathrooms, and cooking areas.
Unlike pollen, mold and mildew aren’t killed by the first frost, however they do tend to go into an inactive phase during the cold weather.
Master plan
Rake your lawn of fallen leaves and get rid of leaves from seamless gutters. Don’t leave stacks of leaves in your lawn. Keep garden compost and yard-waste stacks far from your home, and use a protective mask when raking leaves and cleaning compost bins. Make sure to empty bins frequently.
Use a dehumidifier in your home, specifically in the basement. Air should be in between 35 and 50 percent humidity. Tidy bathrooms and the kitchen area routinely using vinegar or store-bought anti-mildew agents to avoid mildew and mold accumulation.
Damage Dust Mites
Dust mites are tiny arthropods that feed mostly on flakes of human skin that are dropped naturally around the home. They’re a common year-round irritant that grows in temperatures ranging from the high 60s to mid 70s. Allergen generally die in extreme temperatures or if the humidity drops listed below 70 percent.
It’s beside difficult to totally rid your home of allergen. But you can take steps to keep them at a workable level.
Master plan
Tidy air vents throughout the house before turning the central heating system on for the first time after summer season. Cover your mattress and pillows in dust-proof covers (dust mites enjoy the bed room). Routinely clean all bedding in hot water (130 ° F or higher).
Use a dehumidifier to keep the air below 50 percent humidity. Dust and vacuum your home frequently, and make certain to wear a filtering mask while cleaning. Consider setting up wood floorings instead of wall-to-wall carpet.
Clean up Pet Dander & Fur
Pet dander is consisted of dead skin that is dropped by animals in the home. Approximately 40 percent of individuals with seasonal allergic reactions also have pet allergic reactions. Pet allergies are activated by an extra-sensitive immune system responding to dander, fur, saliva, or urine from animals.
Master plan
Prevent contact with furry animals, particularly felines and dogs. Wash and groom family pets frequently. Using a filtering mask can help keep your allergic reactions in check.
Think about just enabling animals in specific areas of the home and keep them off furnishings. Keep litter boxes and pet bed linen far from air vents, and use an air cleanser to help clean up the air of pet allergens.
Medication and Immunotherapy
For many people, fall allergic reactions can be controlled with over the counter or prescription allergy medications that contain antihistamine. They usually can be found in the kind of pills, lozenges, eye drops, or nasal sprays.
See also: How to Know If You are Having an Allergic Reaction to Medication
Neti pots with a saline rinse can be used to treat symptoms of allergies. Immunotherapy (allergic reaction shots) can be an effective option if you have severe allergic reactions that do not react to non-prescription options. The shots work by slowly exposing the immune system to a specific allergen so it can build up a tolerance.
Preparing yourself versus allergies does not mean standing guard at the window in fear of pollen and other allergens. Taking the safety measures mentioned above can help make your allergic reactions more workable throughout the year.
Can Honey Lessen Seasonal Allergic Reaction Symptoms?
Mayo Clinic. Answers from Brent A. Bauer, M.D.
Probably not. Honey has actually been anecdotally reported to lessen symptoms in people with seasonal allergic reactions. But these results haven’t been regularly duplicated in medical studies.
Still the concept isn’t really so far-fetched. Honey has actually been studied as a cough suppressant and might have anti-inflammatory results. In addition, some specialists explain that honey can contain traces of flower pollen– an irritant. And one treatment for allergic reactions is repeated direct exposure to small amounts of irritants.
In the meantime, however, it appears that honey might simply be a sweet placebo. But do not let that stop you from using it in food and beverages. Simply do not give honey to children below 1 year due to the fact that of the risk of infant botulism, an uncommon however serious form of food poisoning.
