You can’t see the pollen and mold that trigger spring allergies, but itchy eyes, stuffy sinuses, and frequent sneezing tell you they’re there. Reduce exposure to the microscopic allergens during hay fever season with these tips from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology:
- Try to stay inside as much as possible on high pollen-count days. You can check the pollen count in your area on the National Allergy Bureau’s Web site, aaaai.org/nab.
- Minimize outdoor activity from 5 to 10 a.m., when most pollen is emitted.
- Close house windows at night and car windows when driving to keep allergens out. You can also turn on the A/C, which cleans, cools, and dries the air.
- Don’t dry laundry outside. Pollen and molds can collect on clothes and sheets.
- Stay off the lawnmower. Freshly mown grass stirs up irritants.
