Spring Allergies
This years pollen counts are insanely high and causing many to retreat indoors for allergy relief. If the pollen count is high in your area, take allergy medication even if you haven’t experienced any symptoms yet, allergists advise. You can check the pollen count in your area at the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology's website. Dr. Merritt Fajt, an assistant professor of medicine in the division of pulmonary allergy and critical care medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, shared some common mistakes that can make allergies feel worse:
1. Don’t Avoid Allergy Triggers, Embrace Them.
If you're suffering, you should be tested. Once you know what you’re allergic to, you can avoid exposure. For example, If you know you are allergic to grass pollen, then we highly recommend you stay indoors during peak times.
2. Opening the Windows.
This can bring the pollen inside your house. Use an air conditioner. A lot of them filter out pollen.
3. Showering in the Morning.
It’s better to shower at night before you go to bed so you can avoid bringing pollen into bed with you.
4. Mowing your lawn if you’re allergic to grass
And if someone else is cutting their lawn don’t go outside...A sublingual tablet is available for grass allergies. It contains low levels of grass pollen and melts under your tongue. You have to take it every day and it’s just for grass, whereas shots can cover a wide variety of allergens.
5. Rubbing your Eyes After Being Outside.
There’s a good chance you could have pollen on your hands and rubbing your eyes makes your allergies worse. You should at least wash your hands before rubbing your eyes and you might try wearing sunglasses since this is a decent way of keeping pollen out of your eyes.
6. Driving with the Windows Down.
You want to close the windows and push the recycled air button.
There are also some unexpected factors that could be making your allergy symptoms worse:
7. Proteins Found in Certain Fruits and Vegetables.
The syndrome is called pollen food allergy syndrome (PFAS). It's also known as oral allergy syndrome.
Sources:
https://www.today.com/health/spring-allergy-season-here-9-common-mistakes-can-make-symptoms-t81451
