Elderly Care Little Neck NY
Spring has sprung and as happens every year, everyone is enjoying watching the flowers bloom, the trees become green and leafy, and the grass grow thick. The world has gone from the whites and grays of snowy winter to the vibrant greens, reds, pinks, and yellows of spring. Who doesn’t love the coming of spring? Unfortunately, the coming of spring also heralds the coming of allergy season. And who doesn’t hate the sneezing, running noses, coughing, and itchy eyes that come with allergy season? According to the AAFA (the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America), pollen is a major cause of spring allergies, also called hay fever.
The AAFA says, “Each spring, summer, and fall, plants release tiny pollen grains to fertilize other plants of the same species. Most of the pollens that cause allergic reactions come from trees, weeds, and grasses. These plants make small, light, and dry pollen grains that travel by the wind.”
In 2012, 17.6 million people suffered with this kind of allergy.(1) Thankfully, pollen allergies are usually more annoying than dangerous. If your parent suffers with seasonal allergies, here are a few tips you can use to make springtime allergy season a bit easier for them to deal with:
● Make sure your parent keeps his or her windows closed during allergy season so pollen can’t get into their home.
● Limit outdoor activities so they don’t breathe pollen in or get it on their clothes, skin, and hair.
● When your mom or dad has to leave the house they should wear sunglasses to protect their eyes.
● Bedding should be washed on a weekly basis, to rid it of any allergens that may have gotten on the fabric.
● See a doctor before allergy season starts so your mom or dad has the right kind of allergy medicine on hand when they need it.
Most important, and a major factor in senior home safety, if your mom or dad suffer from allergies and want to take an antihistamine or other over the counter allergy medicine to help control their allergy symptoms, do not let them. Sometimes over the counter allergy medicines interact with other medications your parent may be taking, and cause an adverse reaction. It should also be considered that some over the counter allergy medicines cause confusion, sleepiness, restlessness, and dry mouth and eyes in those who take it. These reactions can sometimes be more pronounced in the elderly.
With the right knowledge and preparation, spring allergy season does not have to be unpleasant for your senior mom or dad.
(1) CDC. National Center for Health Statistics.FastStats:Allergies and Hay Fever. 2012. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/allergies.htm. Last Updated 2014. (Retrieved April 8 2015)