Although it doesn’t last long, for people who suffer from hay fever, allergy season may seem like an eternity. This is because the symptoms of hay fever or seasonal allergic rhinitis are often unbearable during this period.
Having a runny or congested nose, itchy eyes, and sneezing frequently can affect your performance at work or in school. These symptoms can be irritating and end up making you feel miserable and unable to do anything.
Items to Keep Handy During Hay Fever Season
Being prepared for allergy season will help you manage your symptoms and enable you to go through your daily activities as efficiently and comfortably as possible.
The key to being prepared is having the right items that will allow you to minimize your exposure to pollen and other allergens. You also need to have the right items to help you manage your allergy symptoms.
Here are the seven must-have items you need to keep handy during allergy season:
1. Medication
The best prescription allergy medicine will ease a runny or clogged nose, itchy or watery eyes, and other signs or symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis.
Although there are plenty of allergy medications you can get over-the-counter, it will still be best to consult your doctor or allergist about which one to get. This is because allergy medications come in different dosages and with various side effects. Some medicines target certain symptoms as well.
To ensure you will be drinking medicine that will give you relief, see a specialist first. And once you have been prescribed your medication, always keep a stock of it.
2. Mask and gloves
Keep a stock of surgical masks in your medicine cabinet and one or two in your bag. Wear them whenever you are outdoors, especially in areas with a high concentration of pollen and other allergens that can trigger your allergy symptoms.
Make sure you wear a mask if you need to work in your garden, bathe your dog, or remove mold from the wall. Wear rubber gloves as well to further limit your exposure to these allergens and the chemicals you will be using.
3. Dehumidifier
Mold and dust mites are allergens commonly present in your home, particularly in your bedroom. They are as bad as pollen and will cause your seasonal allergy symptoms to flare up.
A dehumidifier can help stop mold growth since it will reduce the moisture level in your home or bedroom. When you keep the humidity level between 40 and 50 percent, you will eliminate dust mites as well.
With your home or bedroom mold and dust mite-free, you will minimize your allergy symptoms.
4. Air purifier
An air purifier can help you manage your allergy symptoms as well. This device grabs allergen particles (including pollen residue) while they are floating in the air and traps them. As a result, the air you will be breathing will be cleaner and allergen-free.
An air purifier can also remove irritants such as smoke, odors, and volatile organic compounds or VOCs. Although they are not allergens, they can make it hard for a person will allergies to breathe.
5. Window shades
During hay fever season, it is best to get rid of window blinds and long drapes temporarily because they collect dust and pollen.
It is best to use window shades during allergy season instead. Be sure to keep windows closed during this time as well to prevent pollen from entering your home.
6. Cleaning supplies
Make keeping your home clean a priority during allergy season. As such, this means having the right cleaning tools and supplies that will help you maintain an allergen-free home.
When shopping for cleaning supplies, choose green, eco-friendly products. You can also create your own cleaning products if you really want to be sure that the ones you will be using are really natural and environmentally friendly.
For a general surface-cleaning product, simply combine vinegar, salt, and water. White vinegar and baking soda can be used to clean nearly anything as well.
7. Allergy-fighting foods
Lastly, boost your immunity and relieve your allergy symptoms by stocking up your pantry and fridge with these foods:
- Pineapple, watermelon, orange, strawberries, and other fruits rich in vitamin C
- Kefir, yogurt, natto, miso, and other foods high in probiotics
- Tuna, salmon, and other foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids
- Onion, tea, apple, and other bioflavonoids
- Almonds, cashews, wheat bran, and other foods with high magnesium content
- Organic honey
When you have everything on this list during allergy season, your symptoms won’t get the best of you. You will be able to go through your daily activities without any hassle as well.