Preparing For Allergy Season
Depending on the type of allergy and where you live, the season of dread can start as early as January or begin as late as September. But regardless of which season of the year sends your allergies in to overdrive, here are 4 things you can do to minimize their effect on your life.
Plan Ahead—Regardless of the kind of pollen—trees in the spring, grass in the summer, or weeds in the fall, it’s best to make plans ahead of time that will get you through it in good physical and emotional health.
Plan outdoor activities on days and times of day that have the least amount of pollen and mold and mildew spores in the air. Keep abreast of the outdoor air quality by tuning in to local news, or going online to get up to the minute information that give you the most control over the number of irritants to which you will be exposed.
The American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) has state-of-the-art pollen counting stations set up around the country. By going to their website, you can get up to the minute information amount the amount of pollen in the air where you live.
On days when the count is too high to be comfortable outside, make sure you have a Plan B. Plan to take a class,join a book club, workout at the gym, or volunteer during the peak of your allergy season so that you remain engaged and stimulated.
There are over 50 million Americans who suffer from allergies. Network with those in your area, and you’ll find that are a lot of people in the same boat with you. Make it work for you.
Be Prepared—-Consult with an allergist and ask for medications that can control symptoms once they start, and for those that can reduce the body’s sensitivity to the allergens. An EpiPen for extreme emergencies is a good ace in the hole to have.
This device delivers a pre-measured dose of adrenalin that can literally save the life of someone whose allergic reaction is so severe that they are headed towards anaphylactic shock.
Allergy shots can also help to desensitize your body to the allergens to which your body has the trouble. This is not a quick or easy fix, and can sometimes take years to realize an effect. But if your allergies are severe, this is certainly a solution that is worth exploring.
Avoid, Avoid, Avoid—The best way to manage any allergy is to avoid whatever triggers it. With airborne irritants this is way easier said than done. Pollen and spore counts are lowest on days when there is little wind, and after it rains. Best times of day to avoid high pollen counts are between 10:00 am and 5 pm. Once you know the safest times to be out and about, your life will become easier because your symptoms will most likely be less.
Control Indoor Air Quality—For many people allergies are triggered by a combination of outdoor seasonal irritants as well as the ever-present indoor allergens such as dust, dust mites, mold and mildew spores, and pet dander. Having to fight off seasonal triggers outside and continue to battle with chronic indoor pollutants makes it incredibly hard on your body.
By filtering the air with a high efficiency particle arresting (or HEPA) air purifier, you can eliminate the indoor triggers that are always there, and remove the seasonal irritants that are impossible to keep out.
There is no known cure for allergies. But using these 4 techniques together will greatly reduce the disruption that allergies can have on your life.
