Fight Fall Allergies With These 5 Tips

For many residents of the U.S., fall is a time of wonder. Leaves change colors, gentle autumn winds relieve the oppressive heat of summer, and pumpkin spice becomes the law of the land. But for allergy sufferers, fall is a time of wheezing, shortness of breath, runny noses, and itchy eyes.

Each year, more than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies, making it the sixth most common cause of chronic illness, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. The sudden onslaught of allergy symptoms can make it difficult to receive timely primary medical care. Here, we’ve provided a helpful guide to equip you with some easy tools that may ease the symptoms of your fall allergies.

1. Use a dehumidifier: Dust and mold love moisture. And if that moisture is in the air, it’s important to do what you can do eliminate some of it. So if you’re having problems with itchy eyes and a stuffy nose, you might consider using a dehumidifier to help prevent the spread of these annoying allergens.
2. Experiment with fall cleaning: We’ve all heard of spring cleaning, but if you’re an allergy sufferer, then you might want to give fall cleaning a try. Clearing out dust, mold, pet dandruff, and other allergens from your home may not seem like a lot, but you’d be surprised at just how well you can eradicate fall allergy symptoms with a little bit of housework.
3. Hang your wet clothes inside: Allergens float in the air all during allergy season, looking for something to attach to. And of those allergens, pollen is notorious for clinging to skin and clothing. By hanging your wet clothing outdoors to dry, you’re essentially inviting these allergens into your home. Try drying your laundry inside to ban outdoor allergens from your home.
4. Use an air conditioner at night: You spend roughly a third of your day in bed, sleeping (ideally). That’s why it’s so important that your bedroom be an oasis away from allergens. Air conditioners recycle the air from inside your room, allowing you to avoid outdoor allergens in the night air. That being said, you should also clean your AC regularly to avoid dust and mold from building up inside of it.
5. Consult a doctor: As we mentioned above, timely primary medical care can be difficult in the fall. But if you feel that you need to see a doctor, there are options. The best urgent care centers can get you in quickly, under 15 minutes 60% of the time, and provide skillful, convenient, and affordable medical care.

Living with fall allergies can be a drag, sucking the fun out of what is easily one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. Following the advice above can help ease some of your seasonal woes and let you experience the true wonder of fall without all of the sniffling!