If you suffer from seasonal allergies, then you'll want to see a doctor and find a treatment that works best for you. It's really nice to have a medication you can take to relieve sneezing, itchiness, watery eyes, and other symptoms. However, you will still want to take a few steps to reduce your contact with pollen. Here are some ways to accomplish that.
Keep your doors and windows closed
When spring arrives and the outdoor temperature is finally pleasant, you may want to just open those windows and let in some fresh air. But in doing so, you'll be letting in pollen, too. Once the pollen is inside of your home, it is hard to get rid of. So, as annoying as it might be, you really need to leave your doors and windows closed to minimize your allergy symptoms.
You can rely on the HVAC system in your home for air circulation. Usually, you can just turn on the fan without having to also turn on the AC or heat. This way, the air passes through a filter before circulating through your home. The pollen gets stuck in the filter, so you don't end up inhaling it.
Leave outerwear outside
One of the most common ways that pollen is brought into homes is by clinging to shoes, coats, umbrellas, and other outdoor apparel. So, once pollen season arrives, leave these things outside. Leave your shoes outside the door. Leave coats, umbrellas, and other similar items in the garage. If you don't have a garage, another option is to leave a plastic tote box outside, and put your outerwear in the tote by the doorway before coming inside. If it's raining outside, you can wipe the tote off and bring it in, and you won't be introducing too much pollen in the process.
Upgrade your filters
This applies to the filters not only in your home's HVAC system but also in your car. Look for filters that are specifically advertised to trap pollen. HEPA-type filters are generally a good choice. Make sure you also change your filters more often during allergy season. Change the ones in your home frequently, and those in your car should be changed about every couple of months, depending on how often you drive.
Keeping allergies at bay requires both allergy treatment and vigilance. Give the ideas above a try, and talk to your doctor if you need any additional tips or advice. If you can stay away from the pollen, you'll feel much better. Talk to a local allergy professional to learn more.
