Ragweed and Mold – Fall Allergens

If you find you are scratching your eyes and feeling a bit more stuffy than usual, it may be because fall allergens such as  ragweed are at their peak. The other thing that is causing problems for a lot of people is mold.  All of the wet leaves on the ground have to be raked up. When you do it releases mold spores right where you are working.  Ragweed pollen and mold are the most common fall allergens for people with fall seasonal allergies

Not to take the fun away but you may want to keep the kids out of those big piles of leaves if the have allergies or asthma.

Another thing we are getting calls on is people are turning on the heaters for the first time and getting all stopped up. The problem is mold, dust, dirt, pollen, pet dander can build up on the heating coils during the summer. When you switch on the heat for the first all of that starts to burn off. Besides smelling bad, the allergens become airborne.  This is the most common of the indoor fall allergens.

Being in South Florida we would see it all the time when the first good cold snap hit. We don’t have the problem at out house because we don’t have heat.

Best thing you can do aside from having the system cleaned, is  to open a few windows when you first turn on the heating system.  Do it early in the day so anything that blows out has a chance to settle.

Wishing you the best of health
Mike Krause

800 771-2246

©Copyright 1996-2013  AllergyStore.com™ All Rights Reserved

Allergy Control Product for Seasonal Allergy – Part 2

Last time, we talked about what you can do to help control your exposure to the pollen that causes your seasonal allergy.

To recap, arm yourself with pollen forecasts.  Protect yourself from pollen in the air by wearing a mask when you must be out on high pollen count days.  Be careful not the spread the pollen that collects in your hair and clothes throughout the house.  You can read the full post at Allergy Control Products for Seasonal Allergy – part 1.

There are other things you can do to reduce your seasonal allergy symptoms.  More and more physicians are singing the praises of nasal irrigation for a variety of reasons.   As it relates to a seasonal allergy, by gently rinsing the nasal passages and sinus areas with a sterile, moisturizing saline solution you can actually remove inhaled pollen particles. Remember, allergy control is all about reducing exposure.

Neti pots have their roots in ancient India. Dr. Oz made them popular in the United States when he appeared on the Oprah show to talk about them.  But, neti pots can be messy. There are single-use squirt bottles to use for nasal irrigation, but that application gets kind of expensive if the pollen season lasts very long.

SinuAir makes an “easy squeeze” bottle that is good for about 80 uses.  If you are looking for something more economical than the single-use bottle, the Nasal Wash System might be easier on the wallet.  It is also much more portable and discreet than a neti-pot or one of the electric pulsating nasal irrigation systems.

Also, be aware that pets will bring pollen into the home just the way you bring it in on your hair.  For this reason, if possible keep pets inside when pollen counts are high.  Understanding that Fido will need to go out for “comfort breaks” and exercise, use the same precautions for bringing your pet inside that you use for yourself.

After prolonged exposure to pollen, bring the pet inside the bathroom and brush its fur.  For your own protection, you might want to wear a mask during this process.  Of course, if you and your pet are crazy enough you could shower together and remove pollen from the both of you at the same time!

Seriously, pet fur can spread pollen all over your home and it is important to be mindful of this.  If you are allergic to your pet, you probably have some Allerpet hanging around the house.  After you brush the pet to remove loose pollen, rub the animal with the Allerpet solution.  The same ingredients that make it work for pet allergies also make it great for pollen.  Your pet will be pollen-free and have a beautiful coat to boot!

Also, keep in mind that your bottle of ADMS Dust Mite Spray is also an all-purpose denaturing agent.  This means that if the cat runs in and jumps on the couch before you can Allerpet it….don’t sweat it!  Just give the couch a light mist of ADMS denaturing spray and the pollen proteins will be neutralized.

When deciding when you should go outside, keep in mind that the pollen that causes problems are generally spread through the air.  That means staying inside on windy days.

Also, when it rains, any airborne pollens are knocked down and stuck by moisture to the first surface they hit.  That means they aren’t flying in the wind and are easily inhaled.  So, walking the dog right after rainfall will allow both you and your pet to get outside and enjoy the mild weather without picking up as much pollen on your hair (or fur) and clothes.

Just another idea or two on using allergy control products for seasonal allergies.

Til Next Time!

Allergy Control Products for Seasonal Allergy

When you think of allergy control products for seasonal allergies, the first thing that comes to mind is probably your antihistamine or your rescue inhaler.  However, with judicious use of avoidance tactics and some other allergy control products, you may reduce your dependence on these medications.

Now, no one is advocating that you toss your prescription medications in the trash or tossing out your inhaler. Be sure to talk to your doctor about any changes in your allergy control program before you make them.

That being said, wouldn’t it be great to make it through the season without that darned ragweed ruining everything?  So here are a few things you can do that won’t cost a dime.  First, start visiting Pollen.Com on a regular basis to get your pollen forecast. They even have a mobile app for your smart phone! Plan your outdoor activities according to when pollen counts are expected to be low.  Also, on those beautiful clear windy days, stay indoors and keep the doors and windows shut.  Those are the prime times for pollens to be released.  The opposite is true.  Rainy and damp days are the best to be outside and right after a rain shower, airborne pollens will be at their lowest levels.

When it comes to allergy control products, if you are allergic to pollen, a mask is your best line of defense. If your job or personal activities require you to be outside during high pollen counts, protect yourself by wearing a mask.  The Q-Mask is a perfect lightweight mask for protecting against pollen and it can be washed and used again and again.

The same indoor/outdoor rules go for your pet.  Pets can carry loads of pollen on their fur and when they come inside, they spread it all about the house. This turns your pollen-free home into the great outdoors!  If your pet must be outside on those high pollen count days, then groom them with Allerpet as soon as they come inside.  The same solution that works to break down pet allergen works on pollen as well.

 

Speaking of pollen removal, when you come inside, change your clothes and wash your hair. That will get the pollen off of you.  Don’t change clothes in the bedroom!  That will just spread the pollen over the place in which you are going to sleep for 6 to 8 hours. Bad idea!

If you have a HEPA air cleaner like an Austin Air or an Alen Air, be sure that you keep them running.  By following these simple tips you may have a more comfortable seasonal allergy season.

Til Next Time!

©Copyright 1996-2013 AllergyStore.com™ All Rights Reserved