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How to cope with your airborne allergy
A comprehensive approach to living with airborne allergy should combine strategies to avoid the cause of the allergy combined with effective treatment.



It is impossible to avoid pollen completely. However you can help reduce symptoms by cutting down your exposure. Sadly, many people for whom pollen is a trigger find that avoiding pollen seriously reduces their freedom to go out and about as they choose, and they often have to miss the enjoyment of spring and summer weather.







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Stay indoors as much as possible, particularly in the morning between 7.00am and 9.00am and in the late afternoon.

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Keep windows and doors shut.
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Let someone else cut the grass.
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Although you may never think of grass having pollen, grass is an important source of the allergy trigger.
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Avoid large grassy areas. Camping holidays are
not a good idea.

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When gardening, moisten potting soil before use to avoid mould spores (similar to pollen) becoming airborne.

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Always wash your hands after gardening.
 


You can carry your own supply of pollen on your clothes and body after being outdoors.
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Have a shower and wash your hair if you have been out in the open air.
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It might help to wear wrap-around sunglasses to keep pollen out of your eyes.
 
 
Pollen falls out of the air as the atmosphere cools in the evening.
• Don't leave washing on the line too late in the day and close windows before the evening.
• Avoid pets. Even if you are not allergic to cats or dogs, these animals can bring pollen into the house on their fur.
• When driving, keep car windows closed.
 
Learn about the different treatments available >

The pollen count
The pollen count, often given as part of the weather forecast during the hayfever season, is a measure of the number of pollen grains in a cubic metre of air. Reports include grass, birch tree and nettle pollen and refer to the previous day.
• Keep an eye on the pollen count. It will alert you to when the hayfever season starts and tell you that it is time to begin taking pollen-avoiding action and seek advice about your treatment.

Get weather and pollen reports now >





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Overnight freezing of soft toys and small cushions will kill the mites. The items will need to be washed afterwards to remove the remains of the mites that can cause an allergic reaction.
 
• House dust mites thrive in moist or damp conditions.
• Take steps to ensure that your home is dry. A dehumidifier might be helpful.
 
• Washing bedding and other material where dust mites may lurk can help, but the temperature needs to be at least 60°C.
• Mites appear to be choosy about bedding, preferring natural wool and cotton to man-made fibres.
• Synthetic fibres such as nylon can reduce their numbers significantly.


Another approach is to deprive them of food and shelter. House dust mites live by eating house dust. The more dust that ends up in the vacuum cleaner and the dustbin, the less there is for them to consume.
• For hand dusting, use a damp duster. It collects dust particles so much better than a dry one.
• Dust mites love dark and the warmth, so try to avoid giving them a comfortable home.
• Keeping things tidy cuts down on dust.
• Put clothes away in wardrobes so that they don't attract dust.
• For vacuuming use a high suction vacuum cleaner with a micro-filter.
• Remove carpets or rugs from home.
• Keep the home cool with air conditioning.
 
Curtains harbour dust mites too.
• Wash regularly.
• Vacuum them as part of routine housekeeping.
 
Learn about the different treatments available >


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Keeping pets out of the bedroom helps reduce exposure.
• Regular bathing of the animal can reduce the allergic problem by removing the saliva and dander that are the actual triggers.
 
For most people, the only way to reduce this problem is, sadly, to find a new home for the animal. However, since so many allergy sufferers react to several allergens, making such a big sacrifice might not necessarily produce much in the way of improvement.
 
Learn about the different treatments available >




• Try to keep damp areas such as bathrooms well ventilated and clean using anti-mould cleaning products.
• Avoid damp and musty surroundings.
• Avoid visiting farms; hay is a particularly rich source
of mould spores.
• Let someone else cut the grass and tidy autumn leaves. Keep away from compost heaps.
• When decorating, use wallpaper adhesives that kill mould.
• Throw away old foam cushions, pillows and mattresses.
• Make sure stored clothes are well ventilated.
• Watch out for mouldy food, even in the refrigerator.
 
Learn about the different treatments available >


  Cigarette smoke, perfume, chemicals such as aerosol sprays and insecticides as well as industrial pollution can all act as irritant triggers. Avoid smoky rooms and, of course, if you smoke yourself, give up. This could greatly reduce your airborne allergy problem.

Avoid using strong perfumes and ask close friends and family to do the same - especially at times of the year when you suffer most from allergy symptoms. You can reduce your exposure to other pollutants in the atmosphere with air filters fitted to air conditioning in the home, at work and in the car. Also try to avoid sudden temperature changes; this too can increase your sensitivity to allergy triggers.
 
Learn about the different treatments available >

 

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If pollen triggers your allergy stay indoors as much as possible, particularly in the morning between 7.00am and 9.00am and in the late afternoon.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Washing bedding and other material where dust mites may lurk can help, but the water temperature needs to be at least
60°C.		  

 
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