Is your car covered in a yellow film? Are you sneezing more than usual? This means pollen allergy season is upon us.
Pollen season can negatively affect human health in a variety of ways. When the pollen count is high, many people experience symptoms including:
- Runny and/or stuffy nose
- Itchy or watery eyes
- Sneezing
- Asthma or other respiratory problems
Pollen can also cause seasonal allergic rhinitis or hay fever. This occurs when the immune system mistakenly identifies harmless airborne allergens as intruders. In fact, 1 in 3 people who have rhinitis symptoms do not have allergies. Nonallergic rhinitis can cause symptoms year-round.
Even if you don’t normally struggle with allergies, you may feel discomfort when there’s so much in the air.
How does pollen cause my symptoms?
When inhaled through the nose and mouth, pollen attaches to the cells and creates histamine, causing an immune system response. The release of histamine causes allergy symptoms.
How can I avoid pollen?
The types of pollen you’ll encounter are dependent on where you live. Flowers are often the most associated with pollen. However, pollen can also come from trees, grasses, and weeds. Surprisingly, weeds produce the most pollen and cause the most allergic reactions.
To check the pollen count in your area, visit the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology website for information.
Avoiding pollen can prove difficult, especially if you live in certain regions of the United States. Many allergy sufferers opt for nasal sprays, allergy shots, and allergy pills.
However, there are additional steps that you can take to help protect yourself and your home.
Our top 5 tips to relieve pollen allergies:
- Stay indoors, and be sure to keep windows closed when the pollen count is high.
- Wash your hair before going to bed at night to avoid sleeping in pollen that has accumulated in your hair during the day.
- Wipe off or bathe your pets after they’ve been outside. This can prohibit the distribution of pollen on furniture and carpets.
- Regularly replace your air conditioning air filter. AC filters should replaced every 1-3 months. During times when pollen is prevalent, you may want to change your filters more often.
- Air purifiers will help provide more protection from pollen and other contaminants, such as dust mites and viruses. We recommend an air purifier with a True HEPA filter, which will reduce 99.97% of airborne particles.
LivePure Bali True HEPA Air Purifier – Graphite
What is the best filter for pollen?
The best air filter for pollen allergies is a filter with a MERV 8, MERV 11, or MERV 13 rating. Not sure what a MERV rating is? Read: What does MERV mean? Filters Fast® Brand Air filters are an excellent option.
Want more info on pollen allergies? Check out these related blog posts:
You don’t have to let pollen get the best of you this spring. Regularly replacing your home’s air filters and being more mindful of local pollen counts can help relieve your pesky pollen allergy symptoms.
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