Pollen is plant product that can travel through air and compiled on outdoor surface of furniture, car, or even on carpet.
Mold is a fungus that favours to grow in damp places including wet soil, vegetation and rotting woods. It can easily spread in atmosphere in the form of spores.
Hay feverOutdoor allergies, also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis or hay fever are allergies to common airborne particles present everywhere outside. Inhalation of allergens triggers hypersensitivity reaction to protein contents of allergens. This generates allergic symptoms such as,
- Runny nose
- Nasal congestion
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Sinus pressure (sinus headache)
- Watery - red eyes and itching.
In severe cases; allergy may result in asthma like symptoms such as shortness of breath and wheezing.
Outside allergies are more common in spring and summer, when hot and dry weather increases the amount of plant pollen in the air. Sensitivity to allergens and severity of symptoms differs from person to person, living in country, and time of year.
American Academy of allergy, asthma and immunology suggested certain steps to avoid outdoor allergens.
Here are 10 ways to avoid outdoor allergens
1,Keep all windows and doors closed
Allergens can easily drift inside your home through open windows and doors, so always keep them closed during pollen seasons. Use air-conditioning to cool your room instead of fan because fan can pull more pollen inside. Moreover, air-conditioning helps to lower pollen that are present inside your house and clean out the air.
2,Keep car windows closed
keep your car windows closed while travelling to avoid exposure to air-born allergens.
3,Do not hang laundry outdoor
Never hang your cloths outside to dry because pollen and mold spores can easily accumulate on drying cloths and triggers allergy symptoms when you wear such cloths. Instead use a cloth dryer to dry your laundry.
4,Stay inside
Stay inside at your home when pollen counts are very high, especially between 5 to 10 am. You can get pollen counts through local weather report. Also, avoid going outside in winded time when dust can be blown around or when humidity level is very high.
5,Avoid gardening
can expose you to mold spores. So avoid gardening activities such as mowing lawn or raking leaves that can stir up molds as well as pollen. Avoid cleaning gutters and piles of wet leaves as these are prime breeding ground for mold spores. Stay away from hay and barns.
6,Care at outside
Wear a filter mask when to go for outside work to block pollen and molds from entering your nose and mouth. Wear sunglasses to avoid direct contact of allergens with eyes. Avoid exposure to tobacco smoke, air pollution, high humidity, irritating fumes, and aerosol spray.
7,Take a shower after coming from outside
shower and wash hair to remove trapped pollen or molds from your cloth or hair. Don't forget to wear washed set of cloth to avoid pollen spread inside.
8,Keep vegetation to minimum around your home
With help of family members cut lawn regularly. Don't allow the grass or weed to grow to produce pollen. Stay away from freshly cut vegetation, as they have ample amount of allergens. Dispose all plant waste immediately to prevent it from getting wet and moldy. Also, clear water drainage system and all gutters regularly.
9,Stay away from pet
Pet hairs are rich source of allergens; hence never wash your pet like dog or cat by yourself and stay away from them as much as possible. Ask your family members to bath them regularly.
10,Caution about vacation plan
Avoid planning for trip during high pollen counts period. In winter and spring tree pollen are prevalent, while in summer grass and weed pollen are more common. Try to find out time of year in which you mostly experienced allergic symptoms or take a consultation from your doctor to find out triggering allergens and then accordingly plan for trip. You can take your trip at area where the plants you are allergic to don't grow.
Such simple precautions may surely help you to minimise the severity of allergic symptoms and ensures an easy healthy life....
