Allergy season is right around the corner, so it’s time to get ready and take action before springtime is here.
Seasonal and environmental allergies are very common. 1 in 5 Americans suffers from allergies, and 4 million workdays are lost around the country every year because of it.
The bad news is that more people experience the effects of seasonal allergies. The symptoms also get worse and for more extended periods too. The good news is that there’s so much you can do to control and ease those symptoms.
First, Some Facts.
Even if you don’t have seasonal allergies or have never had them, you should know that they can change at any point in the future. Air quality and climate change affect allergies: they cause the allergy season to be longer, and plants create more pollen carried by the wind.
Environmental allergies, unlike food allergies, can also develop in later stages of life and can go on for weeks and months. Those can be life-threatening for people with asthma - every day, ten people die in the U.S. from asthma alone.
There are many types of symptoms that change from one person to another. The severeness, exposure time, reaction time, and the correlation between them are all individual. Some people will experience symptoms as soon as 20 minutes. Others will get a worse reaction the longer they're exposed.
Solutions
Please note, The suggestions below are not a substitute for any medical advice or treatment. Always consult with the appropriate physician if needed.
If you’ve been dealing with bad allergies, take precautions now. Talk to your doctor, and get the medication you need before the season kicks off. Most prescribed drugs need some time to become effective, so preventative care is essential.
Generally speaking, be aware of your symptoms. If they get worse and over-the-counter medications no longer help, or if they affect your breathing - you should see a doctor.
Immediate Help
This one is as easy as they come: clean your home! Your bedroom should be your focal point, as you spend a good part of the day in it sleeping.
Your mattress and sheets are a cozy habitat for dust mites. It’s essential to clean them and change the sheets on a regular basis.
Avoid bringing pollen into your home. Change your clothes when you come back and take a shower before getting into bed. It’s also a good idea to keep your pet out of your bedroom.
Consider ventilating your room at specific times of the day. The highest pollen counts rise during the early morning hours.
Over-the-counter antihistamines. You can get drugs like Allegra and Claritin, or steroid nasal sprays, like Flonase and Nasacort, at every pharmacy. Steroid nasal sprays can be very effective but need about a week of regular use to start working.
In case of a severe reaction to allergies, a doctor can give you a steroid shot. It will help nip the inflammation in the bud but is only a temporary fix to the problem and shouldn’t be administered regularly.
Playing the Long Game
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you can consult your doctor and check the route of allergy shots (desensitization) — this process “trains” your immune system by introducing it bit-by-bit to doses of allergens. Over time, your sensitivity and symptoms will decrease dramatically.
The process is currently still long, and you’ll have to be consistent. It will start with weekly shots for 6-8 months and one shot a month for about two years. Having said that, scientists are constantly working on shortening and improving this process.
Aura Air helps you regulate, monitor, and get rid of airborne allergens at your home: You can now select your allergies and their specific sources in your Aura Air app. Your Aura will give you a full report, in real-time, on your indoor pollen levels, as well as target and capture particles and allergens as small as 0.3 microns. Now you can finally be in full control of your indoor air quality and breathe clean air.
