Reduce allergens in your home to reduce your seasonal allergy symptoms.

Seasonal Allergy Series: Part 1 of 3
       (Seasonal allergies series: Part 2 of 3,  Part 3 of 3)
As I began to  write this blog post, I realized that there is no way I could fit all the information I want share into 1 post, even if that post was incredibly long.  So, what started out as a quick list of helpful tips, has ended up as a 3 part Seasonal Allergy Series.  Part 1 will discuss ways to reduce allergens in your home, Part 2 reviews dietary dos and don’ts for allergy sufferers, and Part 3 gives some natural treatment alternatives.

It’s Spring!  The trees are flowering, daffodil are blooming, and hay-fever is starting.  The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology estimates that more than 30% of adults and 40% of children suffer from seasonal allergy symptoms each year. With numbers this large, the chances are high that you or someone you know suffers from hay-fever, also known as seasonal allergies.

An allergy is an exaggerated immune response to substances (allergens) that normally do not cause reactions in most people. An allergy can be triggered by ingesting, touching or inhaling the substance. Allergy symptoms occur when your body responds to allergens by producing a chemical called histamine, which works by helping to counteract the allergen. Then histamine engages your immune system which then mounts an allergic reaction by producing Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies that cause widespread symptoms.

This reaction could cause mild symptoms of coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes, a runny nose and a scratchy throat. In severe cases, it can cause rashes, hives, low blood pressure, breathing trouble, asthma attacks and even death.

We touch, eat and inhale millions of substances daily.  Most of the time our bodies see these substances as harmless and either discard them as waste or utilize them for bodily functions.  Unfortunately, there can come a time, when your body starts to react differently to things previously known as harmless. The trigger for this process is complicated and many times unknown.  Sometimes, however, it’s as simple as having too much of a good thing. I like to think of our bodies as a bucket when it comes to allergies and sensitivities. Our bucket can only hold so much before it will begin to spill over. Our bodies have mechanisms to clean irritants from our systems, but sometimes those mechanisms cannot keep up with the input. If you think of all of the chemicals and allergens you ingest, touch, inhale as drops into the bucket you can see how fast your bucket might fill up. This could happen as a one-time fast overload or a slow build up over time.  All you really care about is that you’re now experiencing seasonal allergy symptoms and would like them gone.

Using this bucket analogy I’ve put together 15 ways to help reduce your daily exposure to excess allergens. Utilizing some of these techniques may help you better tolerate the allergens that you cannot control such as the blooming trees or the hay field next to your office.

  1. Wash your bedding often. Wash your sheets in hot water at least weekly and your blankets and comforters once a month during high allergy season.  If you let your furry friend sleep in/on your bed, you’ll need to wash these even more often.  Even if you don’t see pet hair on the covers, they are dropping dander and pollen that they’ve picked up running around outside. Some people find that a quick wipe down of their pet’s fur with a wet cloth can help remove excess pollen that could end up in your bed.
  2. Change your pillow case every 2-3 days. You spend 6-10 hours of your day with your face next to or pressed onto this material. You don’t want to be breathing in 7 days’ worth of allergens that have rubbed off of your hair and skin.
  3. Wash your pillow, not just the pillow case. A thorough washing and drying can help remove allergy causing particles. (Be sure to check your pillow’s washing instructions.) Consider investing a few dollars in a high quality allergy free pillow cover, especially if you use a down or feather pillow. These zip onto your pillow sealing in dust, fluff, dust mites, etc.
  4. Take a shower before bed to rinse your hair and skin. There’s no point to having a beautifully clean pillow case if you go to bed dirty. Get rid of as much of the extra particles as you can, so you breathe easier all night.
  5. Purchase HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance) filters for your furnace and air conditioner. Or at least change/wash your current filters. Start the spring with clean filters, then clean/replace them monthly or quarterly depending on your system’s instructions. This will also help your system operate more efficiently and save you money.
  6. Vacuum and dust often. Removing dust from your home is one of the easiest ways to reduce allergens. Don’t forget those overlooked dust collectors like your mini-blinds, drapes, tops of cupboards, under couches and your vent covers. Damp mop hard floor surfaces at least weekly.
  7. Before you vacuum, purchase higher quality HEPA filters for your vacuum cleaner. If you’re like me, you change the bag often, but never think to change the filter. Doing this can significantly decrease the amount of dust your vacuum circulates into the air as you use it.
  8. Use an air purifier in your bedroom. If you love your nighttime fan, upgrade to an air purifier fan so you aren’t blowing dusty air into your face all night. And, just like your vacuum, regularly clean out the filter.
  9. Keep your windows closed. You can clean all day and use all the filters in the world, but if you keep your windows open, pollen and dust are going to blow right in. This is especially true in the afternoon and evening when the air outside is extra dry and breezy. If you cannot afford a central air conditioner or window air conditioner, try only opening your windows in the early morning then close them up to hold in the cool air as long as possible. Just do the best that you can with this without melting. Hopefully you’ll be over the worst of your spring-time allergies before the summer heat really sets in.
  10. Prevent mold and mildew. Mold and mildew are highly allergenic. Clean mold and condensation from window frames and sills. Fix any leaking pipes, especially in dark areas like under sinks. Use exhaust fans when cooking and showering/bathing. Wipe excess moisture in your fridge. Clean your tub and shower regularly. (ugghh! I know.) Wash your shower curtains. Wash the inside vinyl curtain using hot water and a little bleach in your washing machine.
  11. Ready for a flooring change? Consider purchasing hardwood or vinyl flooring instead of carpet. Carpet is a major collector of dirt, dust, pollen, etc. You know this is true if you’ve ever looked at the dirty water in the reservoir after using a carpet scrubber. (Disgusting!) I’ve had patients’ year-long allergies almost completely resolve after removing the carpeting from their homes. If you love the feel of carpet on your feet, you can always purchase a few washable throw rugs.
  12. Replace your scented candles with essential oil diffusers. If you love fragrance in your home or car, try using natural essential oil scents instead of synthetic chemical candles. Reducing the number of chemicals you breathe in the can help lessen your sensitivity to load in the air. An added benefit to smell-good essential oils is that some of them, like eucalyptus, are antimicrobial and can help clear stuffy nasal passages.  It’s also a good idea to avoid wearing extra perfumes or scented lotions during allergy season.
  13. Wear goggles and a dust mask when mowing the lawn. I know what you’re thinking… you’ll look like a total dork if you do this. Yes, you will. But, you’ll suffer much less from red, itchy eyes and runny nose. If you can’t bring yourself to look like Captain Idiot in front of your neighbors, at least be sure to take a shower immediately after you’re done. Wash off all those pollen particles that you’d keep breathing and spreading around your house and car. If you can’t shower immediately, for the love of all that is holy, DO NOT go to bed without showering.
  14. Clean your car– if you spend any significant time in your car you should consider it an extension of your home. Wipe down all hard surfaces including the air vents and thoroughly vacuum the carpets and seats. Keep your windows rolled up during high pollen or pollution times. Replace your air filter. Substitute natural scents for your hanging tree freshener.
  15. Don’t smoke in your home. Really, don’t smoke at all. But, if you must… smoke outside in a well-ventilated area. Give yourself a few minutes to “air out” before going back into your home.

Hopefully you’ll find some of these tips helpful.  If you’ve tried many of these ideas and are still experiencing allergy symptoms, be sure to check out Part 2 of my allergy series next week for helpful tips on foods to eat and avoid during allergy season.

Part 2 of my 3-part Allergy Series will discuss dietary dos and don’s for reducing your seasonal allergy symptoms.

And, remember-  Do more than Exist … EXCEL!!