Spring is a time of great change – new flowers, new life and new allergies! If you find your seasonal allergies start to act up in the spring, we’ve got some top tips to help minimise your symptoms.
Know the Pollen Count
The MET office publishes weekly pollen forecasts and updates the pollen count daily. Use this information to determine if it’s right for you to go outside depending on your own sensitivity to pollen. It might be better for you to run errands, dry clothes, and spend time outdoors on days where the pollen count is low.
Shower and Change After Going Outside
Pollen can stick to your skin and clothes where it can be transferred to your eyes and nose after you’ve been outside. To reduce the risk of irritation after being outside, take a shower and change your clothes to remove any pollen from your skin.
Keep Windows Closed
As pollen causes allergies and is found outside, it’s best to keep your windows closed to prevent it from entering your home. Similarly, try to avoid bringing grass or flowers into your home.
If you want to have your windows open to cool down your home, you could consider an air conditioning unit or fan.
HEPA Filter
Many units, such as dehumidifiers and air conditioners, come with built-in HEPA filters. These filters are designed to remove a high percentage of airborne particles, including dust, mould, pollen, and bacteria. Using a device with a HEPA filter is a great way to condition the air in your home and help minimise your allergy symptoms.
Don’t Dry Clothes Outside
Because pollen lives outside, drying your clothes and bedding outside can cause them to become covered in pollen. This will then bring the pollen into your home for you to sleep on or wear all day. Prevent this unnecessary pollen exposure by drying your clothes indoors on a clothes horse.
If you're concerned about drying time or humidity in your home, use the laundry setting on a dehumidifier. It cuts drying time and prevents excess moisture.
Our range of dehumidifiers with laundry settings offer a convenient and efficient solution for drying your clothes indoors.
Stay on Top of Dusting
Dust can be a significant allergy trigger for many people due to dust mites. If your symptoms are acting up, it’s important to keep on top of the dusting to ensure that you aren’t exposing yourself to triggers unnecessarily. This includes dusting and vacuuming frequently, up to once or twice a week if you can.
Use a damp cloth to dust as dry dusting can introduce more dust into the air.
Dust mites can also live in carpets, bedding, and cushions so ensure that you keep these clean. If you’re able to remove fabric covers, you should wash these at high temperatures. Put a hypoallergenic cover on your mattress and consider using a vacuum cleaner fitted with a HEPA filter.
Antihistamines
Your body feels the symptoms of an allergy due to the release of a chemical called histamines. To reduce the effects of these symptoms, you can take medicine called antihistamines. This medicine blocks the effects of histamine*.
Saline Nasal Spray
If you’re looking for a drug free way to help minimise your allergy symptoms, saline nasal spray helps to wash away dust and pollen from your nose. This means it is less likely to cause an allergic reaction*.
Overall, allergens can cause a range of symptoms and discomfort in individuals with allergies. However, by understanding the triggers and taking preventative measures such as avoiding exposure to allergens and using air purifiers, it is possible to alleviate these symptoms and improve quality of life.
*Please note, the information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose any medical condition. For more information see www.NHS.uk
