10 Tips for Fighting Seasonal Allergies

You and your residents have surely noticed that hay fever season has hit. We hope the following 10 suggestions from Health.com help you fight back against allergy symptoms!

1. Keep the windows closed. Even though a breeze is refreshing, tree and grass pollen can come into the building through just the narrowest of window cracks. If it gets stuffy, run your air conditioner (and remember the change the filters before each season to remove pollen, dust and mold). 
2. Know what to expect. Weather websites and news channels track the pollen count. There are also phone apps available for this purpose. If the count is high, try to stay indoors as much as possible. 
3. Wear sunglasses. Sunglasses can physically block allergens from blowing into your eyes, especially when it's windy. 
4. Eat yogurt. Studies have shown that people who consumed a yogurt drink containing the probiotic Lactobacillus casei once daily for five months had lower levels of an antibody that produces allergy symptoms. 
5. Try to relax. Stress can aggravate allergic reactions. 
6. Exercise in the afternoon. If you like to walk or run outdoors, do so in the afternoon when pollen counts are lower. 
7. Take off your shoes. When you walk into your home, take off your shoes so that you don't track pollen around the house. You might also want to take a shower so that pollen doesn't hang around on your hair and body. 
8. Eat salmon. A German study found that people who eat food containing high levels of an omega-3 fatty acid called EPA - which is common in fatty fish like salmon - were less likely to develop hay fever. 
9. Keep your pets off your bed. Pets that spend time outdoors can drag pollen back inside with them on their fur. 
10. Take a 24-hour allergy pill before bed. Since these pills can cause drowsiness and take a few hours to kick in, they'll start working while you sleep. 

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