More than 20 million South Africans suffer from allergies triggered by pollen, which means the coming spring season will bring sneezing, sniffing and a blocked nose.
Spring, it’s said, happens about 10 to 14 days earlier every year due to climate change, and pollen levels are higher than ever before. This, together with a couple of other environmental factors, means allergens thrive for longer periods and are produced at higher rates. Research has also shown elevated concentrations of certain airborne pollens at night. This, in turn, increases the chances of ‘insneezia,’ a combination of not sleeping and sneezing – a condition that plagues about two thirds of hay fever sufferers.
Insneezia is usually the result of pollen that rises into the lower atmosphere during the day and then falls back to the ground as the temperature drops in the evening. Hay fever symptoms are the primary contributor to disrupted sleep and daytime drowsiness. Sleep disturbances affect about 88% of children who suffer from hay fever and between 48% to 68% of adult sufferers.
Try these three tips from Solenco for managing your hay fever symptoms:
- Allergy-proof your home: Keep doors and windows closed in the early morning and at night, this is when pollen counts are highest. Wipe counters with a wet cloth to remove pollen and have a shower before you go to bed, this way you wash off accumulated pollen.
- Look at what you plant in your garden: The most allergenic pollen in South Africa comes from the plants that are not indigenous but have been introduced, like plane and oak trees from the Northern Hemisphere. Rather plant indigenous trees and shrubs to further reduce your exposure to pollen.
- Invest in air cleaning tech: A good quality air purifier can go a long way towards removing pollen and other allergens from within your home. Look for one with a HEPA Filter and a 4-stage purification system. If you really want to get fancy, choose a H13 HEPA filter, which will remove 99.8% of particles which are too small to even see. If you live in a dry area, a humidifier with a built-in or optional air purification filter is best. Opt for energy efficient technology so that you can keep energy costs lower.
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