How to Help Spring Allergies?
By Justin J. Murphy
For many of us (60 million in fact), spring allergies are downright nasty. Stuffy noses, itchy throats, eczema, postnasal drip, sleep problems, dark circles under the eyes—that feeling of inflamed irritability that you just can’t shake day in and day out. Every year it’s the same. And many of us most likely have a regimen to combat those allergy symptoms that may or may not work, including over-the-counter meds, nasal inhalers, neti pots, facemasks, bandanas—anything to keep the pollen, dander, and mold at bay.
But, there’s another solution—an advanced air purification system. It’s a simple philosophy that goes something like this—clear your air of pollens, pollutants, and irritants, and clear your nose, throat, and mind all at the same time.
And while it’s true breathing cleaner air can help with spring allergies, it’s also important to implement a holistic routine that mitigates allergy symptoms and gets you back to your non-itchy, non-stuffy, non-snoring self.
Causes of Spring Allergies
Before you go rearranging your daily routine, it’s important to identify what causes spring allergies so you can make choices that help you win the battle against spring allergies immediately.
Pollen
It’s everywhere in spring. Falling from the beautiful oak trees lining your street, dancing in the wind from the weeds in your backyard, and floating into your nasal passage from the tall grass growing on the hillside. When pollen enters the body, our immune system kicks in, releasing antibodies to attack the allergens, leading to histamines flooding our bloodstream. And when histamines hit the blood, they trigger those classic allergy symptoms including runny nose, itchy eyes, mucus buildup, and inflammation from head to toe. But before you start chopping down your alder, cedar, hickory, and mulberry trees know this—pollen can travel for miles. So, it’s best to find a solution that doesn’t require you to remove oxygen-generating plants or change zip codes.
Mold
April showers bring May flowers—and May mold. An increase in moisture and temperature means an increase in mold, both outdoors and indoors. And because 1 in 5 Americans suffer from environmental allergies including mold, that means a significant amount of us deal with mild or major respiratory issues each spring. Eliminate (or reduce) the mold, and you reduce the spring allergy struggle that is very real for thousands of us.
Dust Mites
Spring is everyone’s favorite time to…clean! While spring cleaning is a ritual that you may (or may not) look forward to each year, cleaning out that closet, garage, attic, bookshelf, or scary area behind the fridge can release a bevy of dust mites known to cause a stuffy nose, wheezing, and sneezing. But don’t worry—by using an air purifier, you can clean AND trap dust mites. And that means you not only have a clean home, but clean air as well.
How to Help Spring Allergies?
Unfortunately, there’s no cure for spring allergies—there are only ways to manage them.
By following a few simple steps, investing in a clean-air solution, and taking the necessary precautions, you can alleviate the toll spring allergies reap on your day-to-day life. Here are a few quick pointers on how to help spring allergies:
1. Purchase an Air Purifier
An air purifier for allergies is a great way to eliminate allergy symptoms associated with pollen, mold, and pet dander. Because an air purifier like the Coway Airmega removes over 99.999%¹ of all airborne contaminants down to 0.01 microns including removing over 99.98%³ of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, you’ll be able to decrease the number of airborne irritants, allergens, and pollutants floating in and out of your home or office, and breathe easier throughout the day and night.
2. Know Your Pollen Count
The more you know about your spring allergy environment, the better off you are. Check your local weather for daily pollen counts and avoid the outdoors as much as possible on those days. And remember—breezy/windy days can generate soaring pollen counts—know before you go!
3. Vacuum and Dust Regularly
Dusty, pet dander-y environments can wreak absolute havoc on spring allergies, especially when coupled with high pollen counts and increased airborne mold spores. So, make sure you get all that pet hair and dander up through a vacuum with a HEPA filter. And, while you’re at it, make sure you flip on your air purifier while dusting and vacuuming to capture and filter all the allergens, pollens, pollutants, and dust mites you’ve just kicked up into the air.
4. Scrub-a-dub-dub. Shower Frequently!
Spent some time outdoors dancing around in what seems like a yellow blizzard of pollen? Rip off those clothes and hit the shower. By removing pollen, dust, and mold spores from your hair and skin, you’ll be able to breathe easier day and night.
5. Dry Your Clothes Inside
We all love the scent of line-dried, sun-drenched clean clothing. But our immune system hates that idea. Drying clothes outdoors will capture pollen, making you a walking pollen magnet. Instead, wash and dry your clothes indoors—and keep that air purifier cranking to make sure none of it reaches your precious nostrils, lips, and lungs!
Help Your Spring Allergies
Springtime is arguably the most beautiful season with its budding flowers and trees, fresh rains, extended daylight, brilliant sunsets, and warming temperatures—each of which contributes to spring allergies. By taking the necessary precautions and measures to curb your allergy symptoms, you’ll be able to wake up each and every morning and actually smell the roses.
