Summer memories may differ year to year, but you can always expect several things in common – sunny skies, day out at the beach, and on a less fun note, summer allergies.
As it turns out, summer allergies are often triggered by the same allergens as those in spring. If you suffer from summer allergies, here are some ways for you to reduce the symptoms.
Please keep in mind that you should consult your doctor in order to gain a true diagnosis of your condition. You should also consult your doctor before any decisions are made regarding self-medication, natural remedies and other solutions.
Hygiene First
Pollens are still the main culprit when it comes to allergies, summer or not.
Whether you are headed out for the day, or you have brought your children out for some playtime, you will want to clean up fast after you are back home.
The longer you leave the pollen on you, the higher the chances that the pollen will spread around the house, worsening your allergy symptoms.
Even without summer allergy symptoms, you probably should clean up after yourself fast.
If you use air conditioning, make sure your air conditioners air is kept in good condition. They should be cleaned on a bi-annual basis to ensure they are free from allergens, dust, mites and other foreign bodies which may aggravate or even cause allergies.
See here for recommendations on air conditioner maintenance.
Bathroom areas are another place where hygiene is important. Damp, mites and similar pathogens can aggravate symptoms common to allergies. Check the use of chemicals, as these, can create allergies that are very similar symptomatically to those of common summer allergies.
Sand & Re-polish Floor
Your floor can suffer from wear and tear after years of use. This is especially true when you have wooden flooring. Grime can trap mites and moulds which can impact your respiratory health.
Your floor may get dents in it, which can trap not just pollen, but also dust and germs. This trapped dirt does not bode well for anyone’s hygiene and health in general, regardless of the seasons.
Some floor sanding and polishing services such as Electrodry would help every year or so, depending on how easily worn your flooring is.
If your flooring is mostly marble tiles, you can get some deep-cleaning done to clean the spaces between tiles.
Carpets are notorious for collecting allergens, mites, mould, pollen, dog hair and more. Consider washing rugs and carpets professionally. For older floors, it may mean removing or replacing your carpets with hard floors which are less likely to harbour those things that lead to allergies.
Some of the symptoms you might experience if your carpets are producing or contributing to summer allergies include:
- Itchy eyes
- Runny nose
- Skin redness
- Sinus congestion
Keep Your Vitamin D Levels High
Having a healthy level of Vitamin D ensures a healthy immune balance. A stronger immune system would be better guarded against allergens, and you may have a higher threshold before your allergy symptom hits.
You can take some probiotics on the side so that your body will always have a healthy level of good bacteria fighting away the bad ones.
Consult your doctor to find suitable probiotics for your family and yourself – your doctor will know better about which probiotics can pair well with your biological makeup.
It’s important to consider that there may be any number of reasons for allergies – at any time of year. Beyond pollens and grasses, allergies can be caused by animal hair and even simple foods.
Always consider the whole of your lifestyle choices including diet, location, season, clothing and other physical conditions which may be aggravating otherwise manageable allergies.
Have Allergen-proof Covers
Cover your mattresses, pillows and cushions with allergen-proof covers that you can get from specialized retailers. Padded furnishing can keep plenty of allergens in them, especially when you do not clean them often.
You might be surprised by the density of dust mites and bacteria on the pillows and cushions that you have not washed for the past months.
In worse cases, bed bugs may even hide within your mattress, and anyone unfortunate enough to sleep on it will wake up with itchy rashes.
Look for covers that are easy to wash and maintain.
Furniture and cushions should be cleaned periodically. Professional services exist but it is also possible to hand wash or gentle machine wash the easy-to-remove covers.
Use natural soaps and detergents when washing linen, covers and blankets. Many of our modern washing soaps contain irritating chemical compounds that can further aggravate or mimic allergic reactions.
Keep the Windows Closed
If your family is more prone to summer allergies than any others, then it goes without saying that you need to minimize your exposure to the seasonal allergens outdoors.
Summer will not be a good time to air out your mattresses and pillows or open your windows wide to let air in.
Open windows in your home and your car will easily expose anyone in it to pollen. Instead of getting fresh air in through the windows, you can switch on the air-conditioning to help cool the area.
Keep the air-conditioner on re-circulating mode so that no outdoor air gets in. And, as above, if this is your preference, then be sure to maintain your air conditioning system so you don’t end up with new allergens in the home.
For those who do not like air conditioning, good fly screens can also hinder the spread of pollens and summer allergens in the home. Look for fine mesh screens which will minimise the movement of airborne allergens but still allow fresh air into the home.
Dry Clothes in the Dryer
A dryer will come in handy come summertime, and your risk of exposure to summer allergies increase.
Airing your clothes out will not be a wise choice in this season since pollen and other allergens in the air stick to wet garments easily.
Try to limit all your laundry activities indoors, and clean out the dryers if you need to. You can also limit your children’s time outdoors when the forecast reports higher pollen levels outside, and wear a reusable face mask when you need to head out.
Indoor dryers also need to be maintained so that exit valves for air do not become a home for allergy-producing microbes. Clean regularly and also consider using an indoor clothes horse instead.
There are times when allergies simply can’t be avoided. Your best bet is to take the most practical steps available and be diligent in maintaining a clean environment for you and your family.
