It’s spring! Which means: warm winds, tulips, the beginning of baseball season, swingy dresses, itchy eyes and nonstop sneezing...wait. What?
Yes, for some of us, spring is not all butterflies and rainbows. If you suffer seasonal allergies—commonly called hayfever—read on for tips on how to survive (and enjoy) the season.
The Weather Network produces a daily pollen index for cities across Canada, making it really easy to check each day. If it’s going to be a high pollen day, plan your activities accordingly. Outdoor activities and exercise should be put off until another day—or at least until the end of the afternoon (when pollen counts tend to go down). Windy, low humidity days have the highest pollen index, and rainy days are when you get a break: rain washes pollen away.
Most of us shower in the morning...but the trouble is, pollen collects on your hair throughout the day. So if you go to bed like that, pollen rubs off on your pillow while you sleep. Which means, you'll be rolling around—literally—in a bed of pollen all night, and smothering your face in allergens. This is a recipe for waking up with a serious case of the puffies. Shower at night, just before bed, to remove all the offending allergens and ensure a nice, clean, pillow to sleep on.
It’s a little heartbreaking, I know, after waiting all winter long to throw open the windows and let the fresh air in. But pollens ride in with all that “fresh” air...so you’re not doing yourself any favors if you’re allergic. This goes for car windows, too.
I hear you, it’s not very green of me. But the problem is: pollen can gather on clothes, towels, and sheets that are flapping romantically in the breeze. Not so romantic when your eyes are all red and you’re living on Benadryl.
Same principle as above. Removing your shoes at the door will decrease the pollen you track into your house.
You may not be able to entirely stop your allergy symptoms, but if you follow these steps, you can certainly minimize them.
Hope springs eternal, anyway. Har, har.
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