How to Reduce Pollen Exposure to Keep Allergy Symptoms Under Control
- By Allergic Diagnostic and Treatment Clinic
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- 24 Oct, 2018
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Pollen allergies can be particularly difficult to deal with since plants--and the pollen they release--are almost everywhere. If you suffer from a pollen allergy, it's important to work with your allergist to find the medications that work best to keep your symptoms under control. However, you also want to do all that you can to reduce your exposure to pollen. Here are some steps to help you accomplish that goal.
Use a HEPA Filter
Those cheap fiberglass HVAC filters may be sufficient for homeowners who don't have allergies, but they are not woven finely enough to trap pollen. You can greatly reduce the amount of pollen floating through your indoor air by switching to a HEPA air filter.
HEPA stands for "high-efficiency particulate air." This term is regulated by the federal government, so any filter marketed as a HEPA filter must meet government standards regarding the size of particles it traps. HEPA filters are known to effectively remove pollen from your air as it circulates through your heating and cooling system.
HEPA stands for "high-efficiency particulate air." This term is regulated by the federal government, so any filter marketed as a HEPA filter must meet government standards regarding the size of particles it traps. HEPA filters are known to effectively remove pollen from your air as it circulates through your heating and cooling system.
Clean and Vacuum More Often With a Good Vacuum
Pollen has a habit of settling out of the air and onto surfaces like your carpet and shelves. Then, when these surfaces are disturbed, the pollen floats back into the air. To keep pollen at bay, make sure you are regularly washing your drapes, sheets and rugs, as these are areas where pollen tends to accumulate. Also, get into the habit of vacuuming at least twice a week using a vacuum fitted with a HEPA filter.
Leave Your Shoes (And Pollen-Covered Clothing) Outside
It's common for people to track pollen inside on their shoes. Get into the habit of taking your shoes off outside and leaving them just outside the door. If you have nice shoes that you want to store indoors, at least wipe off the soles (and dispose of the moist cloth outside) before bringing them inside.
If you engage in any activities like gardening or mowing the lawn, put an outer protective layer of clothing on before you do so. Then, shed this layer of clothing outdoors before you come inside. This keeps you from bringing pollen indoors on your clothing. Later on, put the pollen-covered clothing in a plastic bag, carry it directly to the washing machine and wash it to remove the pollen.
Keep the Windows Closed
If your home gets warm or stuffy, use your air conditioning system or central fan rather than opening the windows. The screens on windows do not stop pollen from blowing in, and it can take several vacuuming and dusting sessions to get rid of the pollen that blows in on one breezy morning.
Have Someone Else Bathe Your Dog
Pets can track pollen inside on their fur, but a common mistake that allergy sufferers make is bathing their pollen-covered dogs themselves. Bathing the dog will expose you to a lot of pollen all at once, which can cause your symptoms to flare up. If at all possible, arrange to have a friend or family member bathe your dog for you. And remember to do this on a regular basis to keep the amount of pollen on your dog's fur down.
Change Your Car's Cabin Air Filter
Do you seem to have sneezing fits every time you drive in the car? Chances are, like many car owners, you don't change your cabin air filter often enough. Cabin air filters are designed to trap pollen, but they do not do a great job of it once they get clogged with debris. Change your cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. New filters typically cost $35 or less, and your owner's manual should show you how to change it.
If you are still suffering from allergy symptoms in spite of following the guidelines above, schedule an appointment with Allergic Diagnostic & Treatment Clinic. We can recommend additional medications and treatment options to help you feel comfortable and symptom-free.
If you are still suffering from allergy symptoms in spite of following the guidelines above, schedule an appointment with Allergic Diagnostic & Treatment Clinic. We can recommend additional medications and treatment options to help you feel comfortable and symptom-free.
Nearly 25 million Americans have asthma, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This lung condition can make breathing a challenge and cause coughing or wheezing. While scientists haven't found a definitive cause behind asthma, some environmental issues can prompt attacks. If you or a loved one has asthma, take a look at some of the most common asthma triggers.
Many people live with food allergies. Food allergies result in the body treating normal, otherwise harmless ingredients as invaders they must fight. While most people think of seasonal allergies when they think about allergies, food allergies can result in serious, life-affecting conditions.
The results of food allergies can be devastating, even fatal. Anaphylaxis requires quick treatment and know-how from others in the workplace. For this reason, education about allergies is crucial.
If you have food allergies and are trying to navigate these types of problems in the workplace, then you may need some suggestions. This guide will help you create a plan of action for contending with food allergies at work.
The results of food allergies can be devastating, even fatal. Anaphylaxis requires quick treatment and know-how from others in the workplace. For this reason, education about allergies is crucial.
If you have food allergies and are trying to navigate these types of problems in the workplace, then you may need some suggestions. This guide will help you create a plan of action for contending with food allergies at work.
When you have a family member with severe allergies, you want to do everything that you can to help keep them as healthy and happy as possible. The problem is that when a person is just as allergic to things inside the home as outside the home, it can be difficult to know what to do to help them manage their allergies.
Get to know some of the important facts about managing indoor allergies. Then, you can be sure that you are doing everything you can for your loved one with indoor allergies.
If you care for a senior loved one, you know that paying close attention to their health can feel like a full-time job. You may begin to notice all the subtle details that come with growing older, including changes to health.
Worsening allergies are one factor associated with aging. In turn, allergies can impact immune system functioning and other chronic health issues. Knowing this, it makes sense that you want to nip allergies in the bud - preventing them from having long-term effects.
If you are worried about allergies and how they affect your loved one, read this guide. You will learn more about how to address allergies before they become a significant problem.
As many as 40 percent of children in the United States are allergic to something. While most allergies are mild, some can be severe and may prove to be life-threatening. Typically, children develop allergies within their first two years of life. What you do during those vital first few months plays a huge role in allergy development.
Exposing your children to certain substances may even help your child avoid allergic reactions later in life. Following are five ways you can keep your child from developing allergies.
In the United States alone, about 50 million people have some type of nasal allergy. For a lot of years, the primary form of allergy treatment was through oral medications that counteracted the allergic reactions to certain triggers. However, immunotherapy in the form of allergy shots is now a highly efficient way to treat allergies in adults and children.
If you plan to move an older loved one into your home, you may worry about keeping their health safe, especially if a doctor recently diagnosed your relative with adult onset asthma. Adult onset asthma (late onset asthma) generally occurs after 50 years of age.
Seasonal and environmental allergies are common, but many individuals develop allergies to common foods and ingredients. While shocking to learn, an estimated 5.9 million children in America have a food allergy. If your child consumes foods they’re allergic to, they could experience digestive issues and skin rashes or anaphylaxis, which is a more dangerous reaction that causes airway constriction and your child's blood pressure to drop.
Asthma can be caused by a wide variety of things. One thing that can cause asthma is exercise and participating in physical activities. Here are some signs to look for that indicate you have sports induced asthma.
A common misconception about allergens is that they start from birth. Yet allergies can develop over time, well into adulthood. Food allergies
are especially susceptible to sudden development. Contact can be as severe as ingesting it or even being in a vicinity of the allergen. Symptoms of allergies can include rashes, welts, itching, burning, sudden swelling or constriction of the throat and air passages. In some cases, allergic reactions can cause hospitalization or even death.