5 simple tips to help with hay fever
Valentina Diaco
Anyone who suffers from hay fever knows the discomfort that the allergy brings. Even small triggers such as flowering meadows or an open window can exacerbate the symptoms. With the right tips, pollen season can be much more enjoyable.
1. Don't take pollen into your bedroom
You shouldn't keep clothes worn during the day in your bedroom, as pollen could have accumulated on them. This will exacerbate your symptoms. Take your clothes off in the bathroom or when you come into the house, and try to make your bedroom a pollen-free zone.
Additional tip:
Pollen clings to hair and mucous membranes too. In the evening, wash your hair before going to bed and clean your nose out thoroughly with a saline nasal spray.
2. Proactive ventilation
Pollen levels can vary, depending on whether you live in the countryside or in the city. The rule of thumb in dry weather when there isn't much wind is to air your house in the early morning if you live in the city, and in the evening if you live in the country.
In the countryside, the pollen concentration tends to be high in the morning because plants release a lot of pollen throughout the day, which rises into the upper layers of the atmosphere. In the evening, the air cools down again, lowering the pollen level. In urban areas, on the other hand, the pollen level is at its lowest in the early morning, because less pollen is released at night and it isn't stirred up as much as there is less traffic.
After a prolonged spell of rain, allergy sufferers can breathe a sigh of relief and air their homes as much as they like, because the rain will have washed the pollen out of the air.
3. Keep an eye on the pollen count
Many people enjoy being outdoors, especially when the weather is nice. Allergy sufferers don't have to stay inside and miss out on the fun, though. The aha! Swiss Allergy Centre's "Pollen News" app (available in German, French and Italian) allows you to keep an eye on the current pollen count. This means you can plan ahead and avoid high-pollen count areas, so you can enjoy spending time outdoors without suffering.
Additional tip:
Wear sunglasses outdoors so that the pollen doesn't irritate your eyes.
4. Wash bed linen more often
5. Clean at home
Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter to effectively trap even the smallest particles like pollen. After vacuuming, it's a good idea to mop the floor to completely remove any remaining dust.
With a few practical tips, you can significantly reduce your hay fever symptoms in your everyday life. If you try to keep your environment pollen-free, clean regularly and plan in advance, you can feel more relaxed going into hay fever season.
Aha! pollen allergy campaign
The aha! Swiss Allergy Centre has launched a pollen allergy campaign. It provides clear information on typical symptoms, appropriate treatment options and practical everyday tips. Webinars and Instagram Live sessions also give sufferers the opportunity to put their questions directly to experts. Details can be found on the campaign page (in german).
For your health: santé24 and SWICA Benecura
Do you have a health question? Our physicians and healthcare professionals at santé24 are available 24/7 on +41 44 404 86 86 for SWICA customers. In addition to telephone health advice, patients whose conditions are appropriate for telemedicine can receive medical services such as diagnostics, treatment, and even e-prescriptions for prescription medications.
Do you feel ill? The SWICA Benecura medical app makes it easy to carry out a digital SymptomCheck. You will receive a personal recommendation about what to do next. Send your information in encrypted form to the santé24 online practice for your telephone consultation to significantly shorten the assessment.
