Ahh! After a LONG winter – Spring is finally here! We all want to get out to enjoy the warmth of the sun and the great outdoors. That is easier said than done for many who suffer from seasonal allergies. Pollen, grass and other fungi are floating around in the air just waiting for us to breathe in and cause us misery. Sneezing, hacking, coughing, watery eyes, runny nose, breathing problems and headaches are some of the symptoms. So, what can you do about it?
First, let’s look at the cause and effect of spring allergens with a simple allergy analogy. Picture a bucket filling with water with a drain on the bottom letting out the same amount of water that is coming in. The bucket will never overflow. If we put more water in than the drain lets out, then the bucket will quickly overflow. That’s basically what is happening during allergy season. Your body is being filled with pollens and other allergens and your immune system (the drain) just can’t keep up. The result is that these allergens overflow into your lungs and bloodstream creating histamines that cause these miserable symptoms. So, we take “anti-histamines” or “histamine blockers” to get relief from these symptoms.
Fortunately, as mentioned above, we know the culprit and the cause. So, do you just suffer through this or are their solutions? These anti-histamines are over the counter or prescription medications that can minimize the symptoms for a period of time throughout the day, then we have to keep re-medicating to get relief. This can get expensive, yet it will at least help you feel better throughout the day.
Another solution to look at would be to create in your home a safe haven away from these allergens in a place where we can recharge our seasonal health battery with a healthy dose of allergen free air. This can be accomplished by reducing the particles, pollen and other allergens in our homes with indoor air cleaning products. We can’t control the outdoor environment, yet there are whole-house air cleaning products and Ultraviolet Energy lights that can be installed into your central heating and cooling system to substantially reduce allergens and other phases of indoor air pollution, when your air conditioner is recirculating the air throughout your house. There are some great options here to choose from that can best fit into your budget while satisfying your need for clean indoor air.
So, then the question becomes; “Do I have to lock myself in my home to continue to get this relief?” Well, an allergen free clean indoor air environment will allow you to breathe easy indoors and empty your “allergy bucket”. This also creates a residual effect when you return outdoors since it takes some time for your body to fill back up with allergens and for the symptoms to return. So, there is a nice side effect of breathing clean indoor air. This may not completely eliminate the need for allergy medication, yet it can substantially reduce the need to take it.