April showers bring May flowers, and although it is beautiful to see the outdoors come to life again in the spring, people who suffer from spring allergies are often left itching and sneezing this time of year. With so many plants blooming in the spring, pollen levels are often at their highest. This can lead to an array of allergy symptoms for those who are sensitive. Additionally, other factors like increased precipitation, humidity, and temperature can exacerbate other allergens that cause respiratory symptoms.
Tree Pollen
Tree pollen is often one of the first offenders of the spring allergy season. In the United States, the peak tree pollen often lands in March and lasts into April, although some warmer regions may experience tree pollen as early as January. Have you ever noticed the pollen powder covering your car or yard? Tree pollen is likely to blame. It is pervasive and difficult to completely eliminate the risk of allergies from tree pollen, especially during the spring allergy season. Tree pollen allergies can lead to many annoying symptoms including runny nose, congestion, postnasal drip, sneezing, and itchy, watery eyes. If you are suffering from tree pollen allergies this year, consider taking an over the counter allergy medication and using saline drops to flush out your eyes and nose. Additionally, try to stay indoors on days when pollen levels are peaking or when there is an added breeze in the air.
Grass Pollen
Just when you thought tree pollen season was coming to a close, grass pollen season begins. Grass pollen usually makes its first appearances in April and is present until early June. There are many different types of grass that have different pollen. You may only be allergic to a certain type, but because grass pollen is so light and able to travel long distances, you may be affected by grass pollen that doesn’t originate in your immediate area. Grass pollen allergy symptoms are very similar to tree pollen and include runny nose, congestion, post nasal drip, sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, and coughing or wheezing. Over the counter allergy medications, saline drops, and decongestants can be very helpful if your allergy symptoms are severe. To minimize your risk of allergies, try to stay indoors during peak pollen days, keep windows closed, and take measures to prevent pollen from entering your home.
Environmental Conditions lead to other Allergies
Although pollen is often the biggest culprit for spring allergies, other environmental factors can also be to blame. Spring often brings more rain and higher humidity, and mold thrives in moist environments. In the spring, mold can often be found growing on fallen leaves, compost piles, grass, and more. Mold spores can cause respiratory symptoms including sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes. If your home is experiencing mold, it is important to use a dehumidifier to collect the extra water from the air. Next on the list is dust. In the spring, many of us go into spring cleaning mode, cleaning out closets and areas of our home that have been neglected. This cleaning, while good in the long term, churns up old dust that has been sitting dormant. Dust can cause the air quality in your home to decrease and cause symptoms like sneezing, coughing, runny nose, and watery eyes, just to name a few. To reduce the effects of dust, be sure to thoroughly clean surfaces in your home, and consider an air purifier to collect the dust that is floating in the air.
How to Avoid Pollen from Entering your Home
During the spring it seems like pollen is everywhere. Sometimes there is so much pollen that we can even see it collecting on surfaces outdoors. The first step in mitigating spring allergies is to prevent pollen from entering your home in the first place. Although some amount of pollen is unavoidable, you can significantly reduce the levels of pollen present in your home with these simple tips:
- Keep windows closed during peak pollen season
- Do not wear your shoes inside the house
- Change/wash clothes immediately if you have spent time outside
- Wipe off your pet’s paws when they come back inside
Consider an Air Purifier
No matter what you do, pollen during peak allergy season is inevitable. You want your home to be a sanctuary where you can rest and unwind without worrying about annoying allergy symptoms. This is where an air purifier comes in. Although there is nothing you can do to control pollen levels outside, you CAN control the levels of pollen and other allergens* inside of your home. PuroAir air purifiers keep you breathing easy and the air in your home feeling and smelling fresh. PuroAir uses high quality HEPA filters with a pre-screen and activated carbon layer to filter up to 99.9% of pollen, pet dander, and dust in the air*. If spring allergies are disrupting your sleep at night, look no further. In a study performed by SleepScore Labs, PuroAir purifiers were associated with a 27% decrease in perceived severity of allergy symptoms and over 80% of participants reported improvements in sleep quality and allergy relief* (Sleep Review Mag). Take your allergies into your own hands and try a PuroAir air purifier today!
Conclusion
Spring is a beautiful time of year, but allergies can prevent you from truly enjoying this season. If you suffer from spring allergies, it is important to take steps to prevent pollen from entering your home. Try adding an air purifier into your home’s cleaning routine if you find that pollen is becoming pervasive in your home. If all else fails, over the counter medications are always an option to provide relief on peak pollen days. PuroAir is here to help you overcome spring allergy season. Check out our air purifiers here!
*Tested to remove Fel d 1 and pollen in an ISO 17025 certified lab.
*Based on SleepScore independent lab testing. Based on filter performance standards and independent testing on inanimate particles in an ISO 17025 laboratory.