Allergies irritate everywhere, but some cities—St. Louis included—are worse than others.
This spring, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America ranked St. Louis the ninth most challenging place to live with allergies. “These rankings vary year to year, but St. Louis is always in the top,” says Dr. James Temprano, an allergist with SLUCare.
1) Latch those windows. Though a gentle breeze begs for you to open windows around the house, shutting them prevents allergens from sticking to you and creeping into living spaces. “You want to keep the pollen outside and the clean air inside,” says Temprano. When allergens slip into the home, changing furnace filters or investing in HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters may help to drive them out.
2) Venture outside at night. Staying indoors may be tempting, but it’s not always practical. Dodge the morning’s high pollen count by scheduling outdoor activities during the late afternoon and evening.
3) Clean house. Indoor allergies such as mold, dust mites, and pet dander cause year-round grief. Dust mites build their homes in linens, upholstery, and even stuffed animals. To prevent an infestation, vacuum carpets regularly and launder linens on high heat. If a fragile teddy bear might not survive the washing machine, the intense temperatures in your freezer will kill the dust mites, too.
4) Go to the source. “Avoidance is the most important thing, so find out what you’re allergic to if you have symptoms.” When avoidance fails, cetirizine (Zertec) or loratadine (Claratin) will ease symptoms for 24 hours. If allergies aggravate you year-round or over-the-counter medications don’t stop the itching, then visit an allergist. Sometimes patients convinced they have allergies are actually battling asthma or sinus problems.
