The (almost) warm weather of the spring brings the much needed welcome after the dead of the winter. The gift of spring means different things to many people; but for the people in the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, the sudden yet expected rise in temperature brings one unanticipated consequence: More allergies to most of us.
Ah, yes, there are so many changes that the spring season can bring. Aside from the usual spring pollen, this year’s spring season brings one thing that most experts didn’t see: The lengthening of the pollen season for most trees and plants. The more encouraging the environment is for the pollen season, the more plants and trees will be producing and giving off heavier pollen load. And the more pollen released to the air, the greater the number of people who will be at risk of actually developing allergies to said pollens. And for people who have long been suffering from common allergies and hay fever, this is certainly not the news they are expecting.
Spring Forecast
In Serena Gordon's article for HealthDay, Dr. Renato Ariano expresses his concern on the effect the temperature on people’s health, and especially those who are actually susceptible to developing certain types of allergies. In their 30-year study of the relationship of the lengthening of the pollen season and the trend in the number of people who have grown sensitive to the major pollens found in their locality, using skin prick testing, Dr. Ariano and the rest of his team has recorded a constant increase in the number of people who have sensitized to three out of five major pollens that were monitored in the study.
And the data only confirmed what most experts have long suspected: With the pollen levels increasing in terms of volume and the pollen season lengthening, more people are expected to have their medications for allergies earlier and longer than the usual. For more information on the pollen levels and concentration in your area, check out the National Allergy Bureau Pollen & Mold Levels database.
Treating Allergies
Whether it’s from spring pollen or the summer’s smog, one thing is for sure: Symptoms of allergies are really difficult to differentiate from symptoms caused by other illness or disorder like cold and even food intolerance. This is why your doctor wouldn’t just give you a quick diagnosis when you said that you are probably allergic from falling leaves; allergies may be something that may not look too serious, but reliable doctors know that allergies are not really something that should be taken too lightly. This is why it is important for us to remember that when it comes to treating allergies, our very first step is not to administer whatever medication you think can ease the symptoms but to head straight to a board-certified allergist. For an all-of-a-sudden or unexpected allergy, most doctors will hand you a prescription for no-drowse antihistamines and nasal corticosteroids for some fast relief and allergy injections that can protect you from a specific allergen so you don’t have to suffer from it all throughout the season.
Home Remedies for Allergies
No matter how bad the spring’s forecast is or if you live in one of the worst cities for those who suffer from allergies, there are ways that you can still have a good night’s rest or get to work without being too grouchy. Here are tips to help you feel better so you can face whatever challenge the season can blow your way:
Rinse your eyes. If your eyes are bothering you and starting to feel itchy, instead of running to the nearest drugstore to buy for allergy medicine, you may want to head to the bathroom and wash your eyes with clean, cool water for an instant relief. Sure it may not be as effective as your trusted antihistamine, but we simply favor this technique with the rest of safe home remedies simply because it is easy, fast, and just don’t require popping something into our mouth.
Wash your hair. After a day’s work or enjoying the first breath of fresh air after the long, cruel winter months, you may want to wash your hair immediately after you come inside to eliminate so you can rinse away whatever pollen you have brought with you. A combo of sweat and hair products acts like a magnet to pollen and dust, making your hair a big, lumpy house for allergens that makes you and your family the frontliners this allergy seasons.
Avoid the culprit. Nothing can put you in harm’s way than yourself; if you have allergies because of smog or your cat and can’t stay away from these main sources of your worries, no allergy shots can really save you. When it comes to allergies, you need to take all practical measures possible. Say, you are allergic to cats, but you love and own one. Being away from their furry friend, even for a day, is a seemingly impossible task for every pet owner - and even to those with allergies. And for women over 40, you know that having a pet is beneficial for your overall health. So what does an allergic pet owner need to do? There are steps that you can follow so you can reduce your allergic symptoms, but not totally be free from it, such as shopping for and using a quality HEPA air cleaner. If you are visiting a friend who owns one, make sure that you make your visit as short as possible and that you avoid being too cuddly with her pet.
Saline solution to remove irritants. If you are having a hard time dealing with what you feel got stuck up there, you may use a saline solution to help ease the nose’s passages from irritants. Aside from de-clogging, a gentle saline solution also helps to wash away the very inflammatory cells that triggered your symptoms in the first place.
Enjoy a full bath. Sure there are plenty of things that you need to face other than taking a bath, but immediately facing the shower head right after you stepped inside can help you prevent a one whole day of being at bed and sick by washing away all the pollen residues that your body has collected outside. Plus, we’re sure you would love the idea of having a warm, relaxing bath after all the digging you have done in your garden.
Do wear eye protection. Fashion magazines declare sunglass as an all-time spring DO. So make sure that you are wearing one when you face the world this season. Women over 40 need not only have the perfect of sunglasses for fashion’s sake but to actually help protect the sensitive skin around their eyes from the sun’s harmful rays, which, by the way, will be bright this season. When it comes to home remedies, a pair of sunglasses is the only protection that your eyes need to be shielded from airborne allergens. And if the weatherman says that it is going to be windy outside, opt to wear for something that has side shields. Better that than goggles, right?
Beware of what the air may bring. Morning and afternoon smog should be enough reasons why you should be wary of what the air around you can actually do to your health. Air pollution should not only concern Mother Earth but so should you, especially if you have been suffering from allergies from some time. In fact, air pollution should not only worry those who have been battling from airborne allergens. Study shows that smog does actually induce allergies among those who don’t have it. But you don’t always have to stay indoors in order to protect yourself. If you enjoy running outdoors or have to run an errand, putting on surgical mask can temporarily guard you against pollutants that can harm your health. Smoggy days, on the other hand, are the perfect excuse to just lounge around the sofa.
Put up a “No Smoking” sign, and we are talking about within your home’s premises. Tobacco, as we all know, is one of the leading irritants when it comes to respiratory allergies; another reason why you should just put down that putt.
Pull the blinds down. If you have been working indoors all winter long, you may want to stay inside longer, especially this pollen season. And to keep everything outside outside, you may want to pull the blinds down. Sure it may block the gorgeous view outside but better this that put your health on the on the line. For those with pollen allergies, this strategy is really a must as fresh air for them is nonexistent. If you feel like you are not doing much, you may want to shop for air purifiers to help you eliminate all possible pollens that you may have brought with you inside after being outside. Though this may absorb any allergen you have inside, air purifiers are also known to just stir up the dust. So make it a regular habit to clean up air purifiers and other items that accumulate dust.
Clean your cleaner, and in particular the vacuum that sips every possible allergen from your home. The next time that you are trying to justify for recycling your vacuum filter, think that recycling your filter also means pumping back all the allergens that you have painstakingly filtered off your home. And yes, it is only in this case that recycling is never healthy. If you have a vacuum that blows back dusts while it cleans, you may want to do something about it. One of the best ways to make sure that everything that is vacuums stays inside is by simply installing a filter on the vacuum’s exhaust port, that is, if you have a canister type. If you have been tinkering on replacing your vacuum and you have the cash to do it, we recommend that you invest on an industrial-strength cleaner that can give you the clean and protection from allergens that you have been wishing for.
Women Over 40 Ask
All About Hypoallergenic Vacuum Cleaners
We are sure you are more familiar with vacuum cleaners that use HEPA filters than these so-called hypoallergenic vacuum cleaners
. But are they really different? Not really too different. You see, hypoallergenic vacuum cleaners are essentially designed to remove particles from furniture, carpet, flooring, and most importantly air through suction, therefore, creating a non-allergic state. Hypoallergenic vacuums boast of three specs that make their clean better than others: Filter, energy efficient engine, and, of course, the bag. And the most popular hypoallergenic vacuum cleaners have one thing that makes them stand out among the rest: True HEPA filters.
. But are they really different? Not really too different. You see, hypoallergenic vacuum cleaners are essentially designed to remove particles from furniture, carpet, flooring, and most importantly air through suction, therefore, creating a non-allergic state. Hypoallergenic vacuums boast of three specs that make their clean better than others: Filter, energy efficient engine, and, of course, the bag. And the most popular hypoallergenic vacuum cleaners have one thing that makes them stand out among the rest: True HEPA filters.
True HEPA Filters
High efficiency particulate air filters
, better known as HEPA filters, are essentially deigned to trap at least 99.97 percent of all particles of up to .30 microns in size not only from items you run them into but most importantly from the air. If you are shopping for a new vacuum cleaner and looking for these types, you may need to double check the details. Absolute or try HEPA filters are produced with exclusive serial numbers and their MERV ratings, or Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. Ever wonder what the HEPA 4 or 5 means in your filter? The MERV rating, based on a 1 to 16 scale, essentially corresponds to the air filter’s efficiency. The higher their MERV rating is, the more efficient the filter is in removing particles both from, say, the floor and air. Most air filters that you can see in the market today have HEPA 4 or 5, and based on the MERV scale, this essentially indicates that these items rest at the lower end of the efficiency spectrum. Does this mean that these filters failed to pass the test? Not really. Receiving 1 to 5 MERV rating is essentially a standard among typical fiberglass or polyester throwaway panels and even those washable filters. A 65 to 95 percent air filter efficiency rating is only necessary in commercial buildings and hospital HVAC systems and not for residential use.
, better known as HEPA filters, are essentially deigned to trap at least 99.97 percent of all particles of up to .30 microns in size not only from items you run them into but most importantly from the air. If you are shopping for a new vacuum cleaner and looking for these types, you may need to double check the details. Absolute or try HEPA filters are produced with exclusive serial numbers and their MERV ratings, or Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. Ever wonder what the HEPA 4 or 5 means in your filter? The MERV rating, based on a 1 to 16 scale, essentially corresponds to the air filter’s efficiency. The higher their MERV rating is, the more efficient the filter is in removing particles both from, say, the floor and air. Most air filters that you can see in the market today have HEPA 4 or 5, and based on the MERV scale, this essentially indicates that these items rest at the lower end of the efficiency spectrum. Does this mean that these filters failed to pass the test? Not really. Receiving 1 to 5 MERV rating is essentially a standard among typical fiberglass or polyester throwaway panels and even those washable filters. A 65 to 95 percent air filter efficiency rating is only necessary in commercial buildings and hospital HVAC systems and not for residential use.
HEPA Type Filters
These HEPA-like filters are produced to function in a lot ways similar to HEPA filter and may actually look so much like them. But when it comes to air filtering efficiency, HEPA type filters don’t even come close: Capturing only 85 percent of the particles, HEPA like filters can only remove particles of 1 micron in size and even below. And since it is less efficient, HEPA type filters, of course, cost less than true or absoluter HEPA filters.
Do I Really Need to Buy True HEPA Filters
If you have been suffering from respiratory allergies and other health problems, HEPA filters
essentially reduce or eliminate small particles and other types of allergens that can cause, induce, or aggravate your symptoms, leaving a healthier, cleaner, and breathable air for your home.
essentially reduce or eliminate small particles and other types of allergens that can cause, induce, or aggravate your symptoms, leaving a healthier, cleaner, and breathable air for your home.
Purchasing HEPA filter is considered by many homeowners as an investment. If you are on a budget, it is definitely easier for you to just settle down with these cheap HEPA type filters since true HEPA filters are not really easy on the wallet. Decide if you really need to have a true HEPA filter working for you, and if removing all these dusts and microscopic particles is really worth investing.
Do not clean dry. Cleaning, and specifically dusting, should be one of the regulars in your schedule. If you are suffering from respiratory allergies, you may want to dust more than once a week. But be careful with what you use or how you dust; if you have been dusting around with feather duster, chances are you are just aggravating your allergy symptoms. Instead of spreading the dust around, we recommend cleaning with a damp cloth so you can contain all the allergens in just one wipe. Loving your dusting spray? Experts recommend putting back the lid to these cans as they may actually give off odors that can make your symptoms worst.
If dusting makes your allergies worst, then, don’t dust at all. Ask someone to do it for you. Have your hubby to do all the dirty work for you; this not only doubles as a bonding activity but, if done properly, you and your hubby may actually end up doing the cleaning - in the tub - together.
Invest in a good dehumidifier. Humid areas are like a tempting open ground for dust mites, which, by the way, are the culprit in the dust you are so allergic from. To maintain a healthy, breathable air in your home, experts recommend shopping for a dehumidifier or an air condition, which actually works equally well. Another reason why you should invest in a good dehumidifier is because it prevents molds from sprouting in almost every imaginable area in your home. When you are on the shower or kitchen, switching the exhaust fan on helps keep humidity at its lowest.
Have other use for the fireplace. Thinking of converting your fireplace into a mini entertainment center? Then, the spring serves the perfect opportunity to just forget about wood chopping and just welcome that new home entertainment that you have been eyeing. If you have been burning treated wood winter long, chances are your allergies have also been up during the winter months. Heavily treated woods not work to aggravate your allergies but actually put your family’s health at risk of inducing respiratory allergies and even diseases.
Leave the mowing to the others. Spring time is the time for some sprucing and trimming. As you start to see how Mother Earth regains her momentum and welcomes the world with some color, you may want to give the task of trimming and mowing grasses to others. It is during the pollen season, which is, by the way, longer this time, that you may want to ask someone, or, just anyone, to do the mowing and clearing. To know the best time for you to schedule this task, check the pollination season in your area with the National Allergy Bureau Pollen & Mold Levels database.
Keep your pet clean. It is, indeed, difficult for any pet owner to be apart from their beloved furry friend – even those who are allergic to fur. And if you are one of those who have been asked to choose between their pet and a chance to be allergy-free for all season, here’s a little trick: Bathe your pet as often as possible. Research shows that bathing your pet with warm water, even without soap, can substantially reduce the allergen found in the animal’s fur. These allergens, which is secreted by their sweat glands and produced with their saliva, is water soluble and can be easily rinsed off even without the help of your pet’s soap.
Call ahead if you are travelling. Planning your vacation next month? You may want to call the front desk ahead than you plan to so you can make sure that your stay will be as comfortable as possible. Ask for a room that will be easy on your health; specifically request that you be not given a slot on lower level since most rooms in this area have been flooded by guests, making it the perfect haven for molds to grow and multiply. If you are still on the lookout for a hotel, you may want to narrow your choices with those that do not allow pets as even the most sophisticated of machines cannot remove virtually all dander that may have been left by the traveler’s cat or dog.
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