subject: Ragweed Allergy Season--7 Tips For Managing Ragweed Allergies [print this page] Ragweed is one of the most renown fall allergy triggers. Pollen from ragweed is light weight and can travel for miles through the air beginning August 15 and lasting sometimes through the end of October
These fine particulates can travel for miles, giving the over 50 million Americans who are allergic to it a chance to inhale and ingest it. These 7 tips can help you prepare for the Ragweed allergy season.
1. Limit Air Exchange-Keep windows and doors closed as much as possible to prevent large amounts of pollen from contaminating your indoor air. Using air conditioning will reduce the humidity levels which also thwarts the growth of mold which can also be a problem for those with allergies.
2. Keep Car Windows Closed--Riding with windows closed and the vent that lets in outdoor air will minimize the amount of pollen that gets into your air. Parking in a garage reduces the time that you are outside to breathe in the pollen and lessens the amount to which you are exposed.
3. Check the Pollen Count Daily-Local TV, radio stations, newspapers all give the outdoor air quality daily. Knowing what the air is like outdoors before planning activities will save you a lot of misery later.
4. Schedule Outside Time Early and Late-The pollen count is generally higher during the day. So scheduling outdoor time before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. will help you avoid inhaling huge amounts of the pollen.
5. Change Clothes-After spending time outside, shower and put clothes in the laundry to immediately get rid of the pollen that so easily attaches itself to clothing, skin, and hair.
6. Eliminate Indoor Allergens--Most allergies are usually triggered by a combination of allergens. Cut down on mold by eliminating excess humidity in the bathroom by using the fan. Minimize pet dander by keeping pets' coats healthy and properly groomed. Reduce dust mite population by laundering bed linens in water that is at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit, as mites are killed at that temperature.
7. Use a HEPA Air Purifier-Regardless of how careful you are, some ragweed pollen will find its way indoors. Using a high efficiency particle arresting air purifier will take out not only pollen but the other normal household irritants that often work in concert with ragweed to cause misery.
By definition this kind of filter must remove 99,997 out of every 10,000 airborne pollutants to have the HEPA designation. The fact that it can operate continually means that indoor airborne irritants are never allowed to build to a level that would make symptoms flare.
