Cool mist humidifiers are designed to increase the air’s humidity. Ultrasonic varieties do this by vibrating the water, which produces microdroplets that humidify the air. They help keep both dust and pollen down, which are significant contributing factors to seasonal allergies. Cool mist humidifiers also help you breathe easier when you’re sick by moisturizing the nasal passages. The best ones on the market have a large capacity, thus allowing them to run continuously without constantly needing to refill, are transportable, and are adjustable.
But be careful when humidifying your place. You can have too much humidity in a space, which can contribute to mold and mildew. Another factor to consider when purchasing a separate humidifier is that you’ll need to remember to clean it regularly. If you don’t, bacteria and fungi can grow in them, thus undoing the healthy benefits of providing extra humidity.
What else can you do other than add humidity to help alleviate allergies? Read on:
Controlling Indoor Dust
- Dust regularly. But don’t dust only to shake it out for it to float around again. Use something to trap it. You can use soapy water and a rag works if you don’t want to have the expense of using those disposable dust trapping feather dusters and floor cleaning systems.
- Invest in a portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. There are a variety of models on the market designed to quietly and efficiently capture airborne dust. If less dust floats around, you won’t need as much humidity to knock it down. Remember to clean it when it gets filled with contaminants or becomes dirty.
- During seasonal increases of pollen and mold, change your furnace’s air filter more often. You’ll also increase its efficiency by doing so.
- If you have carpeting, use a more efficient vacuum HEPA filter. Also, wash the carpeting more often.
- If you have pets, keep them groomed. The more pet hair and dander in the air, the more likelihood you have of allergy flare-ups.
- If your allergies are mold related, use a dehumidifier.
Stay Away from Allergens
While staying away from allergens seems easier said than done, there are some simple things you can consider doing.
- Be aware of high allergen-producing days. News agencies will broadcast when these are.
- Don’t cut the grass, do lawn work, or garden on dry, windy days or when there is high mildew, mold, or pollen counts. If you have to be outside during those times, wear a face mask to help filter the air.
- If you’re finding yourself outside during days when high amounts of allergy triggers are present, get out of your clothes and wash off the allergens from your skin and hair as soon as you get in.
- Don’t hang laundry outside to dry; doing so may exacerbate symptoms later on, as allergens can cling to anything you do.
- Use air conditioning in your car and house on high pollen days. Informational blogs suggest that while it may be nice enough to open the windows, it’s better to use the air conditioner than suffer later.
The Medical Route
- Take over-the-counter allergy medication when allergens such as mold, mildew, and pollen counts are high. Many have non-drowsy formulas to help you function throughout the day.
- Rinse or “irrigate” your sinuses with a homemade or store-bought saline solution. If making your own solution, use bottled water. If you don’t have, at minimum, use filtered water, canning salt (not table salt), and baking soda. A few versions of the nose irrigation devices on the market assist in the process.
- Use corticosteroid or Cromolyn sodium nasal sprays, which can help your immune system ignore allergens.+
- Use oral antihistamines, which can help relieve symptoms such as sneezing, itching, a stuffy or runny nose, and watery eyes.*
- Take oral decongestants, which can provide temporary relief from nasal stuffiness.+
- You may also want to look into alternative treatments such as
- Butterbur, also known as “Petasites hybridus,” extracts work as effectively for itchy eyes as oral antihistamines
- Bromelain, an enzyme found in papaya and pineapple, helps improve breathing by reducing inflammation.
- Local honey is another popular natural treatment. The idea behind using it to help treat allergies is that bees collect pollen to make honey, which helps your body stop overreacting to the pollen’s stimulus.
- Spirulina is a blue-green alga that helps protect against hay fever symptoms that cause sneezing, congestion, itchy nose, and sore throat.
- Stinging nettle may act as a natural antihistamine
- Quercetin, a natural flavonoid found in broccoli, cauliflower, green tea, and citrus fruits, may help stabilize histamine release, thus controlling allergy symptoms.
- Vitamin C may help inhibit histamine levels
- Peppermint and Frankincense essential oils may help reduce symptoms of bronchial asthma and hay fever.++
- Eucalyptus essential oil has antimicrobial properties that may help reduce allergic symptoms if added to your laundry.
- If all these fail, contact your doctor for prescription medications
+Be careful when taking OTC medications. Overuse may develop into dependency, which is why many such drugs must be “signed out” from the pharmacy counter. Always consult your doctor before taking it to determine any medication interactions.
++ Essential oils can be diffused into the air but should be diluted in carrier oil if applied topically. Some of the better cool mist humidifiers have essential oil trays.
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