Fall allergies forcing your kids to bide their time inside the home? You can find some of the tips enumerated below helpful for your children. Before reading those, let us understand some of the fall allergy signs.
Fall Allergy Signals
During fall, it is estimated that more than 30 million Americans suffer from various kinds of allergies. The most common allergy that most of suffer from is the hay fever or allergic rhinitis. Hay fever is caused by many types of plants. One plant that causes hay fever is ragweed and there are 17 different types of this plant that cause this allergy.
In all there are 7 signs of autumn allergies and symptoms. They are –
- Sneezing
- Post nasal drip
- Itchy throat, nose and eyes
- Asthma attacks
- Fatigue
- Congestion
- Coughing
How to treat fall allergies?
Buy a dehumidifier- During fall, our homes become humid because of the retention of moisture. Such an environment is ideal for the growth of molds and dust mites. If you are allergic to these organisms, you must buy a dehumidifier. This machine sucks up extra moisture from the air and makes you comfortable.
Staying clean- Washing yourself after a day’s hard work is not a bad idea after all. When you come home after spending a lot of time out, you also bring back home a lot of pollen. Remove your shoes before entering your house. Change your clothes at your door way so that no pollen enter your home.
Monitoring pollen levels- If your area is a high pollen zone during fall, then stay indoors for some time. Restrict your activities to your home and do not venture out. Keep away from allergens. Once the pollen level is stabililized, you can resume your normal life style.
Laundry – Don’t hang clothes outside to dry. Laundry is a good magnet for pollens. Avoid drying your clothes outside. It would be a good idea to use a washing machine, instead.
OTC medication – It is a good idea to take OTC antihistamines. These days these drugs are non-drowsy, long lasting and are also more effective. You should start taking these medicines a few days before the onset of fall and continue taking them for the rest of the season.
Replace your air conditioner filter – You should change your AC filters regularly. These are the best places for the pollen to live and grow. Replace these filters with hypoallergenic ones.
Switching on an air-conditioner at night – You are probably spending close to 8 hours every day in the night sleeping and relaxing. Switch on your air-conditioner so that your room is free from pollen. Use HEPA filters in your machine to minimize the growth of these particles.
Is it the dog? In case you have a dog as your pet, then don’t let it come near you and sleep in your bed. Dogs are carriers of pollen but, many pet owners are oblivious to this simple fact. Make the tough decision and keep your dog away for some time.
