Although it may not feel like springtime just yet…spring is on it’s way which means flowers blooming, birds chirping, sun shining, and of course…sneezing, itchy watery eyes, and yellow pollen everywhere. Welcome hay fever!
Common symptoms of hay fever are nasal congestion, sneezing, watery eyes, coughing, postnasal drip, facial pressure, and fatigue. The large number of pine trees along with various other trees, grasses, and weeds we have in Georgia is a major contributor of pollen. Each plant has a pollen season which begins as early as January and lasts until November.
Short of locking yourself indoors, there are steps you can take to limit the amount of pollen in your home and car:
- Keep windows closed in your home and car
- Wash your car regularly to reduce pollen exposure
- Set your air conditioning on “recirculate”
- Wash bedding, pajamas, and clothing in warm or hot water to remove allergens
- Take a warm shower before climbing into bed at night
- Do NOT hang clothes outside to dry
- Do NOT rake leaves during pollen season
- Taking over the counter medications may be all you need to relieve your symptoms, but natural options such as acupuncture or the natural herb Butterbur, which is as effective as Allegra, may also be options to explore.
So take a deep breath and just breathe!
Barry Teubert
Northwest Exterminating
Savannah Service Center Manager
[email protected]