Spring is a wonderful time of year here in South Africa – the combination of warmer weather, longer days and the promise of summer just around the corner is enough to lift anyone’s mood.
Unless, of course, you’re one of many South Africans who suffer from seasonal allergies. If that’s the case, you probably associate Spring with a runny nose, sneezing, and red, itchy or watering eyes – none of which is any fun at all.
Image courtesy of Cottonbro Studio production. Published on: February 18th, 2021. Source: pexels.com
Spring allergy triggers
In Spring, pollen counts can shoot up as trees and plants produce flowers after being dormant for the Winter. Then there’s the grass pollen, fungal spores, and airborne dust in areas where it doesn’t rain in winter, but Spring brings breezy conditions. All these allergens take much of the pleasure out of going outside, so here’s how to find relief from seasonal allergies without missing out on the great outdoors.
Image courtesy of Kat Smith production. Published on: August 8th, 2017. Source: pexels.com
Living with allergies
Spring doesn’t have to be a miserable experience – with a bit of simple preparation you can make the most of the warmer weather without so much as a snuffle. Use the weather app on your smartphone to watch out for times of high pollen count and avoid them if you can. When you venture outside, wear sunglasses to help keep allergens out of your eyes, and consider wearing a mask if pollen counts are especially high.
Drinking plenty of water also helps – staying hydrated can help relieve congestion, so keep you water bottle close at hand. A quick search for “allergies” on Bob Shop will help you find lost of useful items, from books about surviving allergies to remedies that offer relief from the symptoms of allergies.
Always carry tissues with you – you never know when you might need them. It’s best to buy a lot of packets of travel tissues and stash them everywhere – in your car, your workstation and at home.
Image courtesy of Cottonbro Studio production. Published on: April 9th, 2020. Source: pexels.com
Tell everyone you have allergies
People who don’t experience seasonal allergies may not fully understand the impact these reactions can have – or could even mistake your symptoms for signs that you are going through some sort of emotional trauma. Reassure them that you’ve not just broken up with your partner with an “it’s just allergies” t-shirt or hoodie – also a great way of reminding colleagues that allergies are a thing, and you really deserve some understanding and sympathy.
Don’t bring your Spring allergies home
After you’ve been outside, your clothes and hair will be full of pollen and dust – you won’t be able to see it, but you’ll certainly know it’s there. During times of high pollen counts, you might find that you need to shower and wash your hair more often, so choose gentle shower gel, bodywash and shampoo that will nourish your skin and hair. You may also find that you need to do laundry more often, so look for detergents and fabric conditioners that will be kind to your clothes.
Image courtesy of Tetyana Kovyrina production. Published on: February 6th, 2019. Source: pexels.com
Filter it out
If your home has air con, now is the perfect time to check that it’s in full working order, and to replace the filters. This will make a huge difference to the amount of pollen that enters your home. Do the same for your car, too – especially if it’s been a while since you had your air filters replaced.
Follow these top tips and you can ensure that the warmer weather puts a real spring in your step – you may still get stuck in traffic, but at least you won’t have to deal with congestion.
Image courtesy of Aleks Michajlowics production. Published on: February 22nd, 2021. Source: pexels.com
