Spring is Here! March 20

Spring is just around the corner, and you know what that means—warm weather, barbecues, lazy days by the pool, and allergies. For as many as 60 million Americans, spring signals the beginning of sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eye season, and in some parts of the country, this can start as early as January or February. But there are things you can do to keep your allergy symptoms under control and make your house an allergen-free haven, even if you have pets!

The Relationship Between Allergies and Spring

Spring is the time when both animal and plant life starts waking up again, and that includes things like mold and pollen, which are the major seasonal allergens that set people off. When the weather starts to warm up, mold, trees, grasses, and weeds start to release spores and pollen in order to reproduce. In many people, this creates a histamine reaction in the body that leads to allergy symptoms, which include:

• Watery eyes
• Runny nose
• Itchy eyes and nose
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Dark eye circles

When Pollen Is at Its Worst

Plants rely on the wind to spread their pollen so that seasonal allergy symptoms will be at their worst on dry, windy days. Not only that, but pollen can travel on a breeze for miles, meaning you don’t even have to have allergens in your backyard or neighborhood because they can blow on the wind from other places.

The best days for allergy sufferers are, sadly, rainy ones, because water soaks the pollen, pushes it to the ground, and washes it away.

Pets and Allergies

Lots of people are allergic to dogs and cats, and house pets can also carry outdoor allergens inside on their fur. When it comes to pet allergies, histamine responses occur as a reaction to saliva, urine, and dander, all of which hide in your pet’s fur.

So because cats and dogs molt in the spring and summer, allergy symptoms can be worse around the house because the animal is leaving allergen-ridden fur all over the place. The same is true of mold spores and pollen, both of which can find their way inside on the back of your pet.

Keeping a Clean and Hermetic House to Reduce Symptoms

There are several ways that you can achieve relief from allergies this spring, and the key is to keep your house clean and outside air outdoors. How do you manage that, exactly? Here are a few tips:

• Keep doors and windows closed
• Install HEPA or allergy filters on your air conditioner and indoor air filters
• Avoid going outside on high-pollen days
• Wash your clothes and shower after being outside (pollen can come in on your hair, body, and clothes)
• Dust and vacuum twice weekly (wear a mask to avoid exposure)
• Take your pets outside daily for a good brushing
• Wash your pet weekly to remove allergens from the fur

Spring means allergies for a lot of Americans, but there are lots of things you can do around your Fort Lauderdale, FL house to reduce allergens and keep symptoms under control. If you'd like help choosing or installing air filters and purifiers around the house, call the experts at AAA Modern Air today at 954-921-4486, and get ahead of your seasonal allergies before they flare up.