As a college student, fighting off lingering allergies is not an ideal way to utilize your time. In order to implement a battle plan, you first must understand the enemy. The main culprit of fall allergies is due to a plant, ragweed, that releases pollen from August through November. 75% of people battling allergies are found to be allergic to this plant!
Top Symptoms of Ragweed:
- Sneezing
- Irritated eyes
- Itchy throat
- Runny nose or nasal congestion
- Coughing or wheezing
- Sinus pressure or headaches
Luckily, some medications are provided to aid in the battle with these symptoms, but like any great soldier, you cannot rely on just your weapon of choice to win. So, incorporating the following simple tips into your attack plan will increase the probability of coming out victorious against the irritating ragweeds.
3 Simple Tips to Beat Fall Allergies
1. Clean your heating vents and change the filter
Molds along with other bacteria can accumulate throughout the summer by getting trapped in the vents. Therefore, once the weather starts getting cooler it is recommended to check these areas. You want to do this before you turn on the heat to help keep the air circulating clean.
2. Check pollen levels
On days that have higher pollen levels, limiting your time spent outside is best. If unavoidable, make sure to change your clothes and shoes once coming inside to minimize the spread of pollen.
3. Buy a dehumidifier
Utilizing a dehumidifier in your house will keep humidity levels low to help stop the growth of mold. It is recommended to keep humidity levels at 35-45%. You want to keep your house along clean and free of pollen, mold, and most importantly ragweed.
With all of this information, you, as a college student, should feel prepared to battle fall allergies and come out of it triumphantly. Hopefully, this will provide you with more time to focus on the project you pushed off until the last minute instead of finding the tissue packet at the bottom of your backpack.
