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10 Tips for Surviving Springtime Allergies

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My plane had no sooner touched down at Raleigh/Durham airport than I started sneezing my head off. We were back in the pollen bomb (what I call the abundance of pollen accumulation this time of year.) Here are to Tips for Surviving Springtime Allergies.

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My oldest son has severe pollen allergies. This time of year is usually miserable for the poor guy. Over the years we’ve gotten better at managing his symptoms. Besides some preventative prescription allergy medications (that we start before the pollen hits), we’ve also used some simple non-prescription remedies. I’m hoping that some of these tips might help ease your springtime allergy suffering, too.

10 Tips to Surviving Springtime Allergies

1. Limit time outside. Especially on dry days. If you have cabin fever, try to head out early in the morning when the morning dew has washed some of the pollen into the earth. Or after a rain shower.

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2. Wear sunglasses when outside to shield your eyes from blowing pollen spores.

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3. After being outside, wipe off hair and face with a damp face towel or baby wipe.

4. Remove shoes inside the door. Don’t track pollen throughout the house.

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5. Change and wash your sheets more frequently.

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6. Steamy showers can really help relieve congestion and wash away excess pollen.

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7. Run your A/C or your HVAC system’s fan to circulate and filter the air as much as possible.

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8. Upgrade to a Filtrete Ultimate Allergen filter during the Spring. The American Lung Association (ALA) releases the State of the Air Report in April, which identifies the cities and towns with the worst outdoor air. But did you know that the air inside your home could be 2­‐5 times worse that the air outdoors, according to the EPA? That’s why changing your filter regularly is such an important part of keeping your home’s air healthy.

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9. Do not use a whole house exhaust fan during peak pollen months. Doing so will pull in the outside pollen-filled air.

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10. Eat local honey. Supposedly eating locally collected honey is akin to getting a small allergy shot weekly. This exposes your body to the local pollens and hopefully helps you build up a tolerance for pollen.

Now that you’ve some allergy fighting ideas, head outside and enjoy Spring’s finest knowing that you can minimize your symptoms.

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About Filtrete:
Filtrete Brand from 3M makes an entire line of air filters for your home’s heating and cooling system – there’s one for each family’s needs and lifestyle. They start at just a few dollars, last up to three months and can be purchased at Lowe’s, Target, Walmart, Costco and your local hardware store. Find a location near you by visiting www.Filtrete.com.

Filtrete Filters are the most trusted brand of furnace filters* {Based on 2012 Burke Brand Health Tracking}. They help create a healthy home and healthier indoor air by capturing airborne dust, allergens, bacteria and viruses.

Filtrete Filters also help maintain airflow in heating and cooling systems, which may help prevent stress on the system and reduce the amount of energy needed to reach desired indoor air temperatures. Some other electrostatically charged filters with similar ratings are tightly woven and may restrict airflow in the heating and cooling system. This may cause the system to work harder and run longer.

Filtrete Healthy Home Remodel Contest

To help homeowners address indoor air concerns, Filtrete Brand, known for its air and water filtration products, has partnered with Mike Holmes, renowned HGTV contractor, on the Filtrete Healthy Home Remodel Contest. One grand-­prize winner, selected by Mike Holmes, will receive $30,000 worth of home inspections, repairs and renovations by a Holmes Group approved contractor. Four first-­prize winners will be awarded $5,000 cash to put towards home repairs. To enter through June 30, 2013:
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Filtrete Filters social media properties and e-newsletter

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  • You can register to receive seasonal e-­newsletters featuring special offers, filter change reminders, better home living tips and more by visiting our website, www.Filtrete.com

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Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Filtrete. I have the honor of being an ambassador for them and will be sharing more information from 3M Filtrete in future posts. I was given key messages to share, but all the words and thoughts are my own.  I have been compensated for my time and for this post. I continue to work with certain companies like Filtrete that I believe in, because of their quality and because I feel they have helpful messages for my readers. I will always disclose to you if you are reading a sponsored post.





 

14 replies
  1. Eco Handyman
    Eco Handyman says:

    These are some great tips! My son and I both have allergies and this time of year can get real bad for us! My main tip is to clean out my car often as I spend a lot of time driving for work. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  2. Stephanie
    Stephanie says:

    These tips do help a lot. I have dreadful allergies – I’ve had 2 sinus surgeries – and have found a few other things that help.

    1. Mint tea really helps with alertness and decongestion.
    2. Chamomile tea can trigger pollen allergies in a lot of people.
    3. Quercetin, a natural supplement found in cherries and apples, is a natural anti-inflammatory and, I believe, antihistamine. At any rate I take one with breakfast and one with dinner during pollen season. It doesn’t eliminate my allergy symptoms but it reduces them considerably.
    4. Step up the frequency on cleaning and vacuuming the car, too. Some of us spend a lot of time in ours, and pollen blows in, tracks in, etc. really quickly.

    Reply
  3. AnnW
    AnnW says:

    Keeping your bedrooms as sterile and clutter free as possible will help. Pollen dusted clothes should not make their way into the bedroom. Mattresses, box springs, and pillows should have allergy covers. Books, stuffed animals and other dust collecting items should be banned during allergy season. An air purifier will help your sleep tremendously. Also, allergy shots will help. Pay your son to try the neti pot. It will help. You can seal your windows with the plastic used for winter air leaks. Ann

    Reply
  4. Colleen Taylor
    Colleen Taylor says:

    This is so timely Brittany! Having moved to Arizona from Colorado, I never had issues with allergies….until now. Yes, everything is blooming so profusely & yes, it’s all so gorgeous but the head & sinus issues do me in. I use the netti pot twice a day & it helps. We don’t have that yellow pollen as you do but there is plenty to keep us all a bit miserable. Thanks for the Filtrete coupon & what a great post. I hope your home & your family is coming along alright with the cleanup.

    Reply
  5. Janet
    Janet says:

    I’m one of those asthmatic severe allergic people. This pollen is making life miserable for sure. I suspect (nothing is sure in this year’s wacky weather) that your area is warmer that CT, but my dear hubs, aware of my allergy suffering, put in a window a/c unit in the living room so I can be out here and breathe easier. We have poodles (they have hair not fur, did you know that?) and they bring in pollen. Sonny is supposed to carefully wipe them down after misting them with water but I’m not so sure that’s happening. Anyway, thanks for the reminder about shoes at the door, changing bedding more often, etc. This w.i.l.l. be forwarded to hubs, related to son with autism who wouldn’t get it in writing.. Thanks. Was he the son who’s room was punctured?
    Janet

    Reply
  6. Paige
    Paige says:

    Great tips! I know people who swear by the honey thing. There’s a meadery (honey wine) in Pittsboro (west of Cary, I work the bar occasionally on weekends) and lots of honey enthusiasts visit. Thank goodness the pollen is finally calming down around here..

    Reply

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