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Keep an Eye on Your Allergies this March!

Spring may be in the air, but so may allergens like dust and pollen. Fear not, though! There are plenty of simple steps you can take to help combat common allergens, so you can feel great and get out and enjoy the (hopefully) warming weather!

Start at home

It’s important to minimize the number of allergens found at home before they can affect you! Follow these simple steps to help ensure your home is clean and your allergies remain under control:1

  • Be sure to vacuum once or twice a week.  Using a HEPA filter can help reduce the number of allergens floating around.
  • Reduce clutter. Dust can hide in the crevices of stacked, untouched items.
  • Scrub your tile. Mold can build up on all surfaces of your bathroom.
  • Use unscented cleaners and detergents. Scented cleaners can trigger allergic reactions.
  • Don’t air-dry your laundry. Doing so can result in pollen sticking to your clothes.
  • Sweep entryways to your home. The cleaner your entryway is, the less likely you are to track dust and allergens inside.
  • Don’t shampoo your carpets. The leftover moisture can cause mold to build up in your carpet fibers.
  • Get rid of drapes and horizontal blinds. It’s easy for dust to settle in these spots.

Clean out your medicine cabinet

Spring cleaning should take place around your entire home — including your medicine cabinet! When you’re getting things in order for warmer weather, be sure to go through and check the expiration dates on all of your allergy medications and replace any outdated ones. Doing so will help you be prepared for when you need them!

Stay up to date

Knowing current allergy trends will help you stay ahead of the game! We love the allergy tracker provided by weather.com. Log on today to see how allergens are affecting the air quality in your area!2

Keep informed

While keeping a clean, allergen-free home; having allergy medicine on hand; and understanding air quality trends are important, it’s also essential to keep yourself apprised of the facts.

Recently, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) responded to a new study on changing trends in childhood asthma prevalence. The organization highlighted the importance of maintaining air quality, appropriate and timely medical care, and education of and support to families of children with asthma as key factors in helping people live with asthma. You can read the entire article here, www.community.aafa.org.

Stop by your local Health Mart® and chat with one of our pharmacists to learn more about being prepared for allergy season. To find a Health Mart near you, visit https://healthmart.com/store-locator.

References

1. Housecleaning Tipsto Ease Allergies . Accessed February 29, 2016.

2. Air Quality Forecast Map. Accessed February 29, 2016.