What to do when the allergies arrive with the great weather and render you sneezy? And what to do when these eye-watering, itchy, congested, sniffling symptoms carry over into the summer months, along with pollen, heat, summer air pollution, stinging bugs, and more weeds. It almost doesn’t pay to go outside after breathing indoor air all winter, but no way are you staying inside! You deserve some outdoor relaxation.
WebMD.com says weeds such as ragweed, sagebrush and tumbleweeds, along with grasses—sweet vernal, Bermuda and Blue grasses, all which carry quite well on the sweet summer breezes—are high irritants. Approximately 40-45 million Americans have some type of allergy, often first appearing during childhood.
To get the most out of your spring and summer, try these tips to enjoy the nice weather and wrap up the end of your school year.
How to combat allergies:
- Get diagnosed. See an allergist to determine the best course of action for your symptoms. Allergy shots are a solution for some people who have severe reactions to pollen, mites or mold.
- Antihistamines help! Get the non-drowsy medication to stay alert while at school.
- Use a neti pot. The saline solution added to the pot rinses out the pollen, keeping the nasal passages from getting irritated and clogged.
- Keep windows to offices (and your car) closed, especially in the morning, when the pollen count is at it’s highest.
- Use a small HEPA or air filter in your office to clean the air. The air conditioner is a good filter as well.
- Tracking in pollen and dust can’t really be helped, but a good welcome mat can prevent some of the irritants from being tracked in.
- Keep your allergy meds with you at all times, especially when traveling or visiting other schools/ towns.
- Perhaps some spring-cleaning of your office is in order—wipe down vents, desk, computer and mouse, and phones to rid the area of dust and pollen.
You may also be interested in reading, Garden Safety Guidelines, Do You Need a 504 Plan for a Food Allergy?, Insect Bites That Do More Than Sting, and Got a Handle on Peanut Allergies? What About Glutens?.
