For some North Carolina residents, spring isn’t
so much about flowers, butterflies, and warmer weather—it’s more about the
impending doom of allergy
season. If you’re an allergy sufferer, springtime means having to go
through the various adverse symptoms of the season, including hay fever.
Allergies occur when histamines are
produced in response to a foreign substance that comes into contact with the
body. In some people, the immune system considers pollen, dust, or other
substances as dangerous, and tries to protect the body from harm by battling the
particles with immunoglobulin E antibodies. The antibodies cause histamines to
be released into the bloodstream, which trigger symptoms. Eliminating dust,
pollen, and other allergens in the air during the spring can help you prevent
the onset of spring allergies
before they even start affecting your body.
One of the best ways to prevent allergic
reactions during the spring season is by keeping your home as clean as
possible. Clean air is essential to you and your family’s health, which is why
it’s so important to improve indoor air quality in your home with routine AC maintenance and
air duct cleaning services of your HVAC unit. In this article, our expert team
at Happy Home Heating & Cooling will discuss the many different ways of
preparing for the allergy
season, to keep your family safe and healthy in the springtime and
throughout the year.
Begin Treatment for Known Allergy
Conditions
Spring allergies can easily be prevented by
taking over-the-counter antihistamine medication and nasal steroid sprays about
two weeks before you start experiencing symptoms. If you normally suffer from
allergies at the start of the spring season, it might be worthwhile to ask your
doctor about preparing for the springtime with proper medication.
Some people develop allergies out of the blue, despite never having had
problems with them before. If you start developing signs of an allergy during
the spring season, there’s a good chance you’re being affected by the increase
of pollen and other springtime particles in the air. Here are some of the
symptoms of allergies in the spring to look out for:
- Red, itchy eyes
- Stuffy nose
- Constant sneezing
- Runny nose (post-nasal drip)
- Sinus congestion
- Sneezing and sniffling
- Dark circles under the eyes
Early Spring Cleaning
Start your spring cleaning as soon as you
can to get rid of winter cobwebs, dust, and pollen that have made their way
inside your home. If you are working on your yard, don’t forget to wear a NIOSH
95 mask to avoid inhaling allergens. Also, keep in mind that pollen can stick
to your clothes; therefore, make sure to quickly change your clothes and take a
bath after doing your spring cleaning.
Keep Your Windows Closed
As much as we might love the springtime breeze
flowing in through the windows, an open window is an invitation for pollen to
enter your space from nearby trees, grasses, weeds, and flowers. If you have
allergies, it is important to keep your windows closed tightly to prevent these
allergens from making their way inside your home, your car, your office, or any
other enclosed space you spend time in.
Keep an Eye Out for Mold and Mildew
Aside from pollen, spring allergies can be triggered by mold
and mildew which can flourish in the warmer weather of the springtime. Mold and
mildew growth is commonly in basements, kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas of
the home that have high levels of humidity. Be sure to check your home for mold
and mildew growing on walls, ceilings, around window, and other areas to make
sure your indoor air quality isn’t affected. If you suspect mold but can’t find
any, have your home professionally inspected for mold and mildew growing in
areas not visible to the untrained eye. Also, monitor and keep your home
humidity levels at less than 50%, and replace tile walls, flooring, and other
older construction materials with anti-mold and mildew products installed in
your home.
Change Your Air Filter
You can keep your living environment a
pleasant one through routine
AC maintenance and air duct cleaning. If you need help maintaining your
air conditioning system in peak condition, you can hire a reliable HVAC company
to perform routine maintenance and repairs for you. The service should include
changing your air filter, which is recommended to be done every three months
and especially before the springtime.
Your Most Trusted HVAC Company in North
Carolina
Happy
Home Heating & Cooling has helped thousands of families in North Carolina improve
indoor air quality with top-quality air duct cleaning and routine AC
maintenance services. With our team of NATE-certified professional HVAC
experts and excellent quality products from leading brands, we’ve established a
solid track record of satisfied clients over decades of service in the
community.
Aside
from our maintenance services, we also provide air
conditioning repair and installation of new HVAC systems in order to ensure
healthy indoor air quality. To learn more about how we can help you, call or
email Happy Home Heating & Cooling today. You may also want to fill out
this online form to schedule an accurate in-home estimate free of charge.
