Spring is just around the corner: the snow will melt, the days will get longer and the grass will get greener and the flowers will start to blossom. And while many will welcome the warmer temperatures, some of the things that come with it may not be met with as much excitement. Let’s talk about preparing for spring allergies. Brought on by the increase in pollen, plant matter, and grass particles in the air, for many, spring symbolizes nothing but sneezing, coughing and stuffy noses. The solution of course, isn’t to wish away spring, but instead to learn how you can prepare yourself for the upcoming spring allergy season.
Painting the Picture
Allergies and their related complications cost America more than $18 billion annually in health costs and more than 50 million Americans suffer from some form of nasal related allergy issue. With these statistics, it’s no surprise then, that for many people spring allergies are a big problem, having serious negative effects on quality of life, health, daily functioning, and even on one’s ability to maintain a job and go to work every day.
While in many cases those who suffer from spring allergies are used to it, it often varies year to year. The severity of the allergies is impacted by the season, including factors such as the precipitation, the temperature, how windy, wet dry or humid it is, as well as where an individual lives. For example, in a season that is dry and windy, with an individual living in the countryside near farmland and grassy fields, allergies would likely be more severe than in a wet and rainy season in the heart of the city. In fact, researchers have recognized this variation amongst cities and annually calculate the cities, which are the most challenging to live in for those suffering from allergy issues. It is also important to remember that each individual reacts differently and has a different degree of tolerance or reaction to allergens. Conclusively, while all these components make it difficult to fully eradicate allergies, there are plenty of ways around these uncertainties to allow you to adequately prepare. Doing so will ensure you don’t suffer any negative consequences as a result of lack of preparation, such as severe allergy flare-ups.
Understanding the Impact
The importance of spring allergy preparation rests on longevity and maintaining long-term health. It rests on strengthening the immune system to ward off future allergy outbreaks to reduce their severity, and for improving life comfort and quality. The impact of making proper and educated preparation choices – and gaining that education and knowledge – in many cases, is the difference between whether you suffer from allergies in any given spring season. Quite simply, without preparing yourself for spring allergies, the annual spring allergy season will likely leave you suffering from allergies, when in fact, with a little bit of time and understanding, you don’t have to be suffering at all.
How to Prepare
Now that you understand the problem of allergies, how they are caused and why and how preparation can have such a dramatic influence on allergy outcome, let’s talk about what preparation might look like. How can you prepare yourself for spring allergies?
- Keep your windows closed – With pollen being one of the key allergens in the spring season, leaving your windows open allows easy access for the pollen to enter your house.
- Begin running a dehumidifier – Because mold is another common cause of allergies, running a dehumidifier to ensure you remove excess moisture from the air reduces the chance of mold growth, and in the process, helps prevent mold related allergies.
- Keep things clean – This includes surfaces like your counter tops, as well as your clothes and sheets. Once you have been outside in your clothes in an area where there may be pollen, best to put them in the wash!
- Avoid peak hour – Pollen in the air is typically at its peak between 5am and 10am. If possible, avoid being outside during these times.
- Track allergens – Many websites and weather report sites offer allergen counts. Use these to help you gauge how bad the allergen content is in the atmosphere and react accordingly.
Take Action
Let’s get started! Consider your symptoms and allergies from previous years and start to think about how you may be able to apply the recommended preparation steps above to avert these reactions. From there, make a preventative spring allergy plan and get ready to stay allergy free this spring season.