Managing Fall Allergies - 7 Ways To Minimize The Disruption Symptoms Can Cause

Unfortunately, nothing can prevent allergies in the fall or any other time of the year. However, following these 7 strategies has proven to drastically reduce your exposure to allergens which in turn can reduce the symptoms and the disruption they cause.

Stop Air Exchange---This means keep doors and windows closed and use air conditioning or heating to keep the inside temperature comfortable. Not being able to open the windows when the weather would otherwise allow may cost a little more, but is well worth it in terms of the allergens to which you are not exposed.

Try to park your car in a place where pollen cannot accumulate on it. And keep windows and the vent for outside air closed in the car as well.

Give Up Yard Work---This is one of the best things you can do during the time when the allergens you are sensitive to are at their peak. Mowing can send grass pollen flying, and raking leaves can send mold spores into the air. Delegate the mowing and leaf raking to someone else, and stay inside for several hours after the yard work is done to literally let the dust settle and the air clear. If you love gardening, it may be very possible to continue enjoying your work in the garden once the fall allergens are gone.

Wear A Mask---It can be difficult to resist being outside once the leaves begin to turn and the weather is gorgeous. For those times when you just have to be outside, wear a mask that can help filter the spores and other triggers that can make your life miserable.

Explore Medical Options---A good allergist is an invaluable resource. Find one. There are a number of preventative drugs that can help your body have less of a reaction. There are also allergy shots that can be given over a period of time to desensitize your body to the offending trigger(s). And you should always carry fast acting medication that you can take to prevent symptoms from escalating.

Leave Plants Outside---Get rid of or at least limit the number of house plants. They can often be a place for mold to grow particularly if the soil is kept moist.

Plan Outside Time Carefully---Dry windy days typically have the most spores in the air. Since they weigh so little, they can and do travel for miles from their place of origin. So the best plan is to plan indoor activities for those days. You can find a daily pollen count for your area online as well as air quality alerts. Tuning in to local news and TV stations in your area is an excellent way to stay in-the-know about allergens that are likely to be in the air.

Filter Indoor Air---Since the best way to manage allergies is still to avoid the trigger, filtering indoor air with an air cleaner that has a high efficiency particle arresting (HEPA) filter is an effective way to keep allergen levels low indoors.

And even though Ragweed, mildew, and mold spores may be at the top of the list, continually filtering the air in your home will also take out other allergens such as dust, dust mites, and pet dander that often work in conjunction with seasonal triggers to cause problems.