Achoo! Tips for Keeping Seasonal Allergies in Check at Your Facility

We're in the throes of allergy season - something you don't need to be reminded of if you're one of the estimated 60 million people in the U.S. who suffer from seasonal allergies. I recently came across an article from Prevention that listed some less-obvious things that can aggravate allergies and wanted to share a few of them in case they could bring your residents - or you! - some relief.

For starters, medications (such as histamines) should be taken a few weeks before the sufferer will be exposed to allergens. These medications work best when started proactively rather than after allergies have already kicked in. It's also important not to skip nighttime doses of the medication. Allergy symptoms such as sneezing, weepy eyes and runny noses peak in the morning hours, and taking medication before bed ensures that it will be circulating in your bloodstream when you wake. (If you're worried about being able to fall asleep, choose regular instead of non-drowsy medication.)

If your residents are sniffling in bed, you might want to crank up the heat on your facility's washing machine. A study in South Korea found that laundering cotton sheets in 140-degree water killed 100 percent of dust mites, compared to warm 104-degree water, which killed just 6.5 percent of them.

Houseplants can liven up a resident's room, but they can also set off sniffling. According to a Belgian study, more than 75 percent of people who have hay fever are also allergic to at least one common houseplant, such as ficus, yucca, ivy, palm, orchid and fern varieties.

Last but not least, hay fever sufferers might benefit from changing their clothes and taking a quick bath or shower after being outside for a while. Hidden pollen particles can cling to to your body, hair, clothes and shoes, causing allergy symptoms to persist indoors.

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