Apr 12, 2019

Allergy Sufferers What Can We Do?



My favorite season of the year has always been Spring!  Oh, how I love the beginnings of new life, growth, and color!  Gardening and being outdoors are things that make me happy!  However, this time of year can reek havoc with allergy prone individuals, such as myself. What's a Spring loving person to do?  The pollen this year has been the worse I've seen in many years!  

It has kept me inside and from doing a lot of my favorite things. I don't like it!  Are you bothered by these awful allergy triggers?  I feel for you, because I know how debilitating it can be.  The reason for this post today is what can we personally do about things that trigger serious reactions?

Also, who doesn't love the breeze that comes in when the first warmth of springtime comes in?  I love it to be able to, as my mama and grandparents used to say, "Open up the windows and air out the house!".  The trouble is for those of us prone to have reactions to say tons of pollen it makes things worse.

  • CLOSE THE WINDOWS
  • KEEP THEM CLOSED
  • SOLUTION RUN AC INSTEAD Be sure to have your units checked regularly to ensure they are in good working order.
*I have to admit when the first warming days of Spring come in I just have to air out the house!  Nothing is more relaxing than window sheers billowing blowing in the breeze. Mama was an avid believer in doing that.  I am sure it is healthier in the long run.  So yes I still do this and then if needed take allergy meds.


Photo by Nathan Fertig on Unsplash

That saddens me but has to be done.  Having to turn the AC on earlier because of having to keep them closed, is a pain as well.


  • KEEP FURNISHINGS DOWN TO A BARE MINIMUM

Photo by Samuel Zeller on Unsplash

I guess this is what one like myself would have to live with to be without symptoms. If that is a rug, I guess it would have to go too! Basically from researching, our homes would have to look pretty much like this room pictured above. It won't happen.



  • PRODUCTS THAT CAN HELP ELIMINATE ALLERGENS
This is a GermGuardian Air Purifier with HEPA filter


  • AIR PURIFIER

I can tell you this thing runs nonstop in our home! My son in law gave me one of these and I can tell you it works great! You can read about this product here.  It is worth reading about how many allergens it does capture and odors it removes from the home. It does what it says. You can purchase from Amazon hereI haven't been compensated, but letting you know what works for me. 

Humidifiers


  • HUMIDIFIERS:  good or bad?  If you have dry sinuses, it may be good, but if you have indoor allergies they may cause you more harm than good.  The moisture may cause you to have more dust and mold.  Dust mites love to grow in moisture.  I want one, but don't dare because of the mold growth.
  • AC FILTERS:  Yes and change them regularly.  That is one thing that you should never forget to do, so change them!  Buy the strongest Allergen Filters you can.  They will be more expensive, but less expensive than a doctor's visit. Right?



Photo by Kari Shea on Unsplash

  • HOUSEPLANTS In addition to getting rid of carbon dioxide and boosting oxygen levels, houseplants can help clean the air of chemical vapors.

  • GOOD VARIETIES TO USE
  • English Ivy
  • Ficus Trees
  • Peace Lilies
  • Some specific types of Palms as well


WHOLE HOUSEHOLD TIPS
  • LIVE WITH THE BARE MINIMUM!  REMOVE EXCESS CLUTTER
  • MINIMIZE CLUTTER IN THE WHOLE HOUSE. Books, magazines, tabletop ornaments, that includes little decor items that are solely for looks,
  • LIMIT OR GET RID OF UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE or clean and dust regularly.
  • REMOVE OR DON'T ADD CARPETING TO YOUR HOME. Wood or tile floors are better for an allergic household.
  • USE LESS FABRICS IN YOUR DECOR:
  • REMOVE DRAPERIES, FABRIC CURTAINS I've yet to do that one, but need to dust them.
  • LIMIT OR REMOVE EXTRA THROW PILLOWS, BLANKETS, THROWS,
  • PLACE A GOOD MATTRESS COVER ON ALL MATTRESSES 
  • WASH SHEETS HOT WATER IF POSSIBLE to control dust mites
  • WASH DUVET COVERS, BLANKETS, COVERS BI-WEEKLY. That doesn't happen here most are dry clean only. I do change often, air them out before pollen falls & fluff in dryer no heat.
  • DON'T ALLOW SMOKING IN THE HOME
  • DON'T ALLOW PETS INTO THE HOME  I know sad, but when individuals are allergic it just isn't worth the health risks.  I know personally and I love animals, but they stay outside.
  • CLEAN ENTRANCES mats, floors clear of pollen. At this very moment my front porch, normally gray is yellow and the black mat is too.  CLEAN to keep allergens out of the home.
  • SWEEP, VACUUM, MOP FLOORS regularly, & don't forget to do so under furniture once in a while as well.
  • DUST CLEAN CLEAR FURNITURE regularly
  • CLEAN WINDOWS AND GLASS SURFACES 
  • WIPE KITCHEN CABINETS, COUNTER TOPS, FRIDGE, STOVE, DISHWASHER FRONTS OFTEN
  • LAUNDRY ROOM: DON'T FORGET THE LAUNDRY ROOM WIPE THOSE DOWN WELL, CLEAN FILTER REGULARLY OF COURSE. AIR OUT BECAUSE THIS ROOM HOLDS MOISTURE.
  • CLOSETS:  TRY TO KEEP ONLY WHAT YOU WEAR AND KEEP IT ORGANIZED, IF YOU STORE OTHER THINGS IN CLOSETS THINK OF PLACING THEM IN A CLOSED STORAGE CONTAINER.  THEY CAN BE WIPED OFF AND KEEP YOUR ITEMS DUST FREE AS WELL.  THE CUTE OPEN BINS OR BASKETS ARE THAT CUTE BUT for we allergy sufferers they are an open invitation for dust.  WASH ALL OF YOUR CLOTHING ITEMS BEFORE RETURNING THEM INTO YOUR CLOSET. DRY CLEAN ONLY AIR THEM OUT WELL BEFORE RETURNING TO CLOSET. No matter how clean we are we have lotions, perfumes, odors that attach and linger.  We don't want our closets smelling like a locker room.
  • TRY NOT TO USE SO MANY CHEMICALS IN CLEANING.BE SURE TO VENTILATE WHEN CLEANING.  A more natural way would be better if you find one that works for you use it.



While we none can do all of these, I guess we can do the best with what we have.


  



2 comments:

  1. Oh, my... this year is not too bad for me, I dust, vacuum, and repeat... it helps we don't have carpet... but our bloodhound Maybell.... does cause me some issues...

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    Replies
    1. Hey, I'm glad you are doing pretty well this allergy season. Yes, the dusting and vacuuming sometimes gets old, but I confess I need to do more of it here. I know how much you love Maybell and I do enjoy seeing pics of her myself.

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