As Winter ends, it gives way to Spring, the season of new beginnings and allergies.
With slightly warmer temperatures, the Earth awakes with plants starting to grow, leaf out and bloom. Animals come out of their winter hibernation and begin their activities and migratory birds return. As beautiful and rejuvenating as Spring season may be, it also comes with a price for allergy sufferers.
We have all been sick with the Common Cold for a week. It’s hard when everyone is sick at the same time, especially when kids are involved. Other than the raw, rough cough and painful sore throat from constantly coughing, we are now recovering and slowly regaining our appetite. If like us, you worry about your children coughing constantly, click here to learn about the types of Coughs you need to Worry About.
We couldn’t go outside for some fresh and cold air since we have a fruitless Mulberry Tree which produces pollen and catkins, wreaking havoc on allergy sufferers like us. With Mulberry trees all over the neighborhood and our High Desert winds which carries the pollen great distances, additional precautions must be used. Yesterday my husband cut off all the branches from the tree and we are still debating on a total removal of the tree trunk or not.
For as long as I can remember, I have not had any allergies problems until we moved to the High Desert seven years ago. Every Spring and Fall, I have a bad case of nasal allergies and approximately a year after settling in our Home, I started developing allergic symptoms from some fruits and vegetables. As of today I can no longer eat Avocado, Banana, Apple without experiencing serious itchiness in my mouth and around the face.
What can you do about Pollen and Allergies?
- Keeping your yard free of weeds to eliminate the sources of pollen around you.
- Stay inside during pollen production periods as well as on windy and smoggy days.
- Soaking down the vegetation to prevent the pollen from remaining airborne.
- Replace heating and air conditioning filters often.
- Purchase a high efficiency Air Purifier to filter, trap and hopefully remove these allergens from the air.
- Keep your windows and doors closed at all times.
- Wear a facial mask when conducting any outdoor activity (during pollen production periods).
- Shower, change clothes and wash hands when you are done with outdoor activities.
- Use sunglasses or prescription glasses to protect eyes when outdoors.
- Drink Tea to provide relief for nasal congestion and inhale steam to soothe sinuses (more information here).
- Talk to your doctor as soon as you have concerns.
Below is a list of allergy causing Plants and Trees:
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According to Northwest Sinus & Allergy Clinic, Mulberry trees are considered severe allergens with yellow flowers appearing in the Spring and bringing significant discomfort to those who are allergic to the pollen. Symptoms of mulberry allergy include Asthma, allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis and occur following contact with pollen from this tree.
Click here and here for more information on allergy causing Plants.
By JM Perez
