Are you experiencing dry or itchy eyes, a sore throat from a nasal drip, and pressure-like headaches? ‘Tis the season for Spring allergies. Throughout Texas, residents experience a long range of allergens year-round—from tree and grass pollen to mold and dust particles. If you find yourself dreading the spring and fall seasons because you feel groggy and ‘stuffed up’, you’re not alone! Luckily, there are ways to help relieve and even prevent the overwhelming effects of year-round allergies. Quality Care Urgent is here to help!
What Causes Year-Round Allergies?
If you don’t exactly know which allergen is causing you symptoms, we first recommend stopping by one of our five locations (Pleasanton, Schertz, 1604 N Potranco, 281 N Redland Road, I-35 South Palo Alto Road) for an evaluation and treatment plan.
San Antonio and its surrounding areas are known to carry high levels of oak pollen. You can catch allergens in action from March to early July when you start to see a green coat of pollen over cars. That’s oak pollen, and it drops by the millions throughout central Texas. Due to the mass amount of oak trees in this region, the spike during spring time is primarily caused by rain showers that in turn allow for trees to bloom or release pollen.
Mold is another highly active allergen during the spring. It releases spores into the air after growing in moist environments. Mold typically appears in showers, under sinks, or any where in your home where moisture remains. Allergen levels fluctuate with the type of environment conditions, especially with rainy days. That is why it’s important to watch for symptoms and get an accurate diagnosis of what is causing them. With many types of environmental allergens present, it’s important to watch for symptoms and find out which treatment best suits you. If not properly treated, more pain like sinus infections are more likely to happen.
3 Simple Ways to Reduce Allergens in Your Home
Most of the time we bring allergen particles with us into our homes. It is important to be mindful of the weather conditions outside and if allergy counts are high. Below are some easy ways to reduce the
Keep the air in home clean. We highly recommend consistently cleaning out HVAC filters during allergy seasons to keep the runny noses and sneezing at bay. Gearing your HVAC system with HEPA filters are also a great way to trap contaminants from the first round leaving no room for them to circulate throughout your home. If you only need something small, air purifiers are perfect for bedrooms or common living areas that will help maintain good air quality for better breathing. It is also important to clean the areas around air filters where they pull air from the surrounding space. Pet fur can accumulate on these filters causing the HVAC system to work harder and distribute more allergens.
Minimize dust mites. Dust mites are microscopic insect-like pests that are amongst the top-causing allergy triggers! It is important to keep all surface areas in your home uncluttered. This will allow for less dust to accumulate. An important rule of thumb, especially for bedrooms, is to maintain floors and walls bare for easy cleaning.
We also advise to avoid heavy drapes and overstuffed fabric as these are perfect homes for dust mites. These fabrics tend to lock in allergens and are difficult to clean or remove. Replace them with shades or washable curtains. Dust mites also thrive in humid areas, and when spring showers start, so does dust mite activity. Keep humidity levels at 50% or less with the help of a dehumidifier. Wash bed sheets and upholstery regularly with hot water to minimize dust mites.
Prevent pet dander and overnight allergies. Finally, if your furry friend lives inside, be sure to wipe their paws and fur with special cleaning towelettes to minimize the amount of particles they bring with them. Brushing your pet’s fur after a walk outside can also help remove allergens, especially if they sleep in the same room with you. While we know cuddling with your four-legged friend during the night can be warm, it also means pet dander and lingering allergens can spread onto bed sheets. It’s highly recommended that pets sleep on their own beds during the night to prevent bad allergies.
Year-round allergens don’t have to be the reason for you to feel groggy. Here at Quality Urgent Care we can help find out the main cause of your allergies and help get you on the right treatment plan to get ahead of any allergen, seasonal or year-round
