If you are one of the many people that suffer from seasonal allergies, it is likely that you want to take whatever steps available in order to minimize the discomfort that you experience throughout the spring and fall months. Understanding the various allergens and when they tend to arise can help you to combat the negative symptoms. Though they tend to have many of the same symptoms, there are a few key differences between spring and fall allergies.
The Most Severe Allergy Seasons
Some people experience allergies year-round, due to some internal elements that they may be allergic to, such as pet dander or dust. Most people, however, tend to experience the most severe allergy symptoms in the spring and fall months. This is largely due to the distribution of allergen particles polluting the air outside. If you experience allergies during the spring and the fall, you will want to take whatever steps possible to reduce your exposure to the allergens that cause your symptoms.
Symptoms of Allergies
Understanding the various symptoms of allergies will help you to understand what steps to take to minimize your discomfort. If you are unfamiliar regarding the symptoms of allergies, it is likely that you won’t know that the symptoms that you are experiencing are from allergies. Sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, a runny nose, sinus pain and pressure, headaches, and other asthma symptoms tend to indicate that you have allergies. If you experience these symptoms, especially during the spring or fall months, it is likely that you are having an allergic reaction to allergens in the air.
Spring Allergy Causes
The spring is unique in that there tends to be multiple waves of pollen throughout the air, which are the cause behind spring allergies. In the beginning stages of spring, tree pollen tends to be the most common allergen in the air. Common trees that spread pollen include birch, walnut, sycamore, cedar, cottonwood, hickory, pine, oak, and maple trees. Trees spread pollen as a method of reproduction, which is why this occurs in the early stages of spring. In the later months of spring, the culprit shifts to various grasses. Some common offenders include bluegrass, Bermuda, redtop, Kentucky, rye, timothy, orchard, and sweet vernal grasses.
Fall Allergy Causes
When it gets to be the fall, it is likely that the pollen in the air isn’t coming from trees or grass. Weed pollens are most common during the fall months. Ragweed, in particular, tends to produce substantial amounts of pollen into the air. Additionally, fall temperatures and climate tend to create the best possible environment for mold to grow. This means that there are an increased number of mold particles that can circulate through the air. Mold particles tend to cause allergic reactions, so this is also likely behind a large part of the allergies people experience in the fall.
Steps for Handling Seasonal Allergies
It is important to know what your specific triggers are. For example, if you tend to exhibit more symptoms in the fall, it is likely that your triggers are either weed pollens or mold. An allergy specialist can do testing to narrow down your triggers, which can help you to avoid them. Ensure that you regularly check for pollen counts throughout allergy season and stay indoors when the pollen counts are exceedingly high. You should also make an effort to keep windows and doors closed as much as possible throughout allergy season. In addition, it can be exceptionally beneficial to remove your shoes when you enter the house. This will prevent pollen and other allergens from being tracked inside of your home, where you likely spend the largest amount of time.
Minimizing Indoor Allergens
Though it can be particularly beneficial to minimize exposure to external allergens, it is similarly important to remove indoor allergens from your home. You likely spend the vast majority of your time inside of your building. Even if you avoid external allergens, the allergens inside of your home will cause your allergic symptoms. There are many steps that you can take to help reduce the number of allergens present inside of your home.
You should try to keep your house at a cool, dry climate. Warm, humid environments tend to promote the growth of mold. You should also ensure that you regularly replace the air filters inside of your building. These air filters are designed to filter out harmful pollutants in the particles of your air. When the filter hasn’t been replaced, it will cease to be effective.
Take care to vacuum your floors regularly. It can be especially beneficial to have your carpets cleaned professionally. This will help to remove allergens from the surface of your flooring. Wash your bed linens on a regular basis in order to remove allergens, especially dust mites, from the surfaces on which you sleep. It can also be helpful to have air ducts cleaned routinely to remove dust, dirt, mold, and other allergens from the air circulating throughout your building.
Reducing Allergy Severity
There are additional methods for reducing the severity of your allergies, even if you aren’t able to completely remove the allergens from your environment. Some shots are designed to reduce the reaction that you have to certain allergens. Others find relief by taking over the counter medications, such as Benadryl or Claritin. It can be useful to consult with a specialist. An allergy expert will be able to help you create the best plan for handling your allergies throughout allergy season.
Here at TNT Cleaning Company, we are dedicated to ensuring that your environment can remain as clean and safe as possible. Though carpeting can certainly help an environment to feel more comfortable, it also traps harmful allergens in the surface. Then, when these surfaces are stepped on, they release the allergens back into the air. Having your carpets cleaned on a regular basis can go a long way toward reducing the number of allergens that are present in the air of your building. To obtain more information regarding our cleaning services and how they can aid in allergies, contact our experts today!
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