How to Deal With Ragweed Season
If you have autumn allergies, it’s time to sneeze and itch. (Depending on where you live, this may already have begun.) Here are some tips on how to deal with pollen and manage your symptoms.
Find out what ambrosia really looks like
Ambrosia irritates our eyes and nose due to windblown pollen, which means you don’t have to be near an ragweed plant to be hit by it. But it’s still good to know who the culprit is so you can pull weeds during summer gardening and make sure you don’t stand next to a meadow full of weeds in the fall.
Difference Between Ambrosia and Goldenrod
Many of us imagine a plant covered in tiny, almost powdery yellow flowers. This is not ambrosia, but her innocent and beautiful compatriot goldenrod . Ambrosia is green, with almost invisible tiny green flowers. The confusion arises from the fact that they tend to bloom at about the same time, sometimes even side by side with each other. So you sneeze, look around and see a goldenrod. It’s worth exploring the difference.
About 15% of us are allergic to ragweed, but there are other fall-flowering plants that can cause allergies , including lamb’s quarters, mugwort, and tumbleweed. Which brings us to the next point.
Contact an allergist
An allergist can help you understand what you are allergic to. Besides ragweed and other fall plants, sometimes allergies that start in the fall can come from year-round sources like dust mites or pet dander that you don’t notice until you start spending more time inside.
Immunotherapy drugs, including prescription tablets that dissolve under the tongue, can sometimes help. However, the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology notes that you need to start taking these drugs 12 weeks before allergy season starts— which means you should start taking them in late spring if you want to be protected by the end of summer. .
How to control pollen
Airborne pollen can get anywhere. Of course, it’s in the air, so you’ll need to keep your windows closed even if you’re enjoying the pleasant autumn breeze. Running the air conditioner in your car may be a better choice than driving down the highway with your windows down.
To filter out pollen that enters your home, consider installing an air purifier either for your entire home or just in your bedroom. (I have spring and dust allergies, and the air purifier by my bed has been a game changer, allowing me to rest without persistent allergy symptoms.)
Then consider other ways pollen can enter from outside. Pollen can stick to your clothes, so it’s a good idea to change when you get home, and shower and wash your hair if you’ve been outside a lot that day. Never go to bed in clothes covered in pollen.
Pets can also carry pollen on their fur, so be aware; you may want to bathe your pet more often, or limit his access to the outdoors if it suits him. At the very least, wash your hands after touching them.
Weather apps can count pollen counts throughout the day. Knowing what you’re allergic to really helps here, so you can check for ragweed pollen if it’s bothering you. Pollen moves around the most on windy, warm, and dry days, so be extra vigilant during this kind of weather. Rainy, cold and windless days will bring relief.