The State Of West Coast Air In Fall 2021
Fall for West Coasters looks a little different. While the air may cool slightly, making way for activities like hiking, autumn and its weather concerns can leave you on the edge of your seat.
No matter how far you are from the source of a wildfire, the threat of smoke-filled skies, property damage, and health concerns can stir up feelings of worry throughout your community. Wildfire burns create excessive amounts of smoke, polluting the air outdoors for miles. And since wildfires travel quickly, smoke can enter your home at a moments notice, impacting the health of you and your family and potentially creating long-term respiratory issues. Even if you are able to evacuate, there will still be lingering smoke in your indoor air after its been deemed safe to return.
Wildfire Season: What to Expect in 2021
You guessed itthis wildfire season is also predicted to be above-average, and we have the climate crisis to thank for that. With most of the nation currently experiencing droughts and higher temperatures, experts predict wildfire season could last longer than normal.
Wildfire Season: Protecting Your Indoor Air Quality
Limit Your Exposure To Allergens
Once you know which allergens are causing your symptoms, you can reduce your exposure to them. For example, if youre allergic to pollen, you can try to stay indoors on days when pollen counts are high.
You can check online with your local weather station to find your local pollen report. You should try to keep your windows closed if you have air-conditioning. If you do spend time outside, its important to bathe and change your clothing as soon as you come inside.
Why Do Allergies Make Me Feel Dizzy
Some allergic reactions cause your body to release a lot of mucus. If you start having so much mucus that it blocks your inner ear drum, you may eventually feel pressure that causes dizziness.
This is because your inner ears manage balance. Allergies also trigger the release of histamines agents that fight a supposed aggressor in your immune system.
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Why Allergies Make You Dizzy
Your Eustachian tubes are tiny tubes that connect your ears to your sinuses. They drain fluid and equalize the air pressure inside of your ears, which contributes to your sense of balance. They also lead to your vestibular system, located in your inner ear, which is responsible for sending your brain signals about balance.
It makes sense, then, that if your Eustachian tubes are swollen or blocked, you may start experiencing dizziness or vertigo. And what can cause your Eustachian tubes to become swollen or blocked? You guessed it: allergies.
Inflammation and mucus build-up in your Eustachian tubes is called Eustachian tube dysfunction. And though it doesnt always cause dizziness or vertigo, they can be among the symptoms.
When you have inflammation in the nose and sinuses, you can also have inflammation in and around the Eustachian tubes, which can cause those tubes to narrow, Dr. Aronica explains. Fluid can then build up behind the ear and impact the vestibular system, which can cause dizziness.
How To Avoid Vertigo During Allergy Season
The best way to evade springtime dizziness is to limit your exposure to allergens. Avoid spending a lot of time outdoors when pollen counts are high, and keep your windows closed.
Kick off your shoes, take a shower soon after being outside, and wash your clothes frequently to reduce the spread of pollen into your home.
Elliott also says that you might even want to change your hairstyle to avoid allergens.
Dont use hairspray pollen will stick to your hair. And wear glasses instead of contact lenses, which pollen can stick to, said Elliott.
If you start to experience allergy symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor right away. They may recommend a nasal steroid spray to bring down the swelling in your sinuses and an antihistamine to ease some of your symptoms. Allergy shots may also help people with chronic allergies to find long-term relief.
I cant stress enough the importance of taking your allergy symptoms seriously the first time you notice them, said Elliott. Most people will suffer through it and think that allergies are a lifestyle disease with no complications, but when your immune system on overdrive for a month, it increases your risk of infection, disease, and vertigo. There are downstream consequences to avoiding treatment.
Not to mention that spring is much more enjoyable when you dont feel like the ground is spinning under your feet.
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How To Remove Black Mold
Protect yourself. You donât need to worry about having mold tested if you find mold in your house. But you should get rid of it no matter what type of mold it is. Take precautions to protect yourself before you attempt to remove mold.
Use an N-95 face mask to avoid breathing in mold spores. Wear gloves to protect your hands and goggles without ventilation holes to protect your eyes.â
Find and destroy the mold. The most important part of removing mold is finding and removing its water source. Mold canât grow without moisture. Keep the following tips in mind when youâre cleaning up mold:
- Items that canât be dried quickly should be discarded if they show signs of mold or water damage. Porous items such as carpet, padding, drywall, and paper soak up moisture.
- Do not paint or caulk over moldy surfaces. Remove the mold and dry the surfaces before you paint. Paint applied over mold will peel.
- Use plastic sheeting to block an area with mold from the rest of your house and keep the spores from spreading.
- Scrub hard surfaces with mold with detergent and water and dry them thoroughly.
- Put any moldy items in a plastic bag before you take them out of the room to prevent mold spores from spreading.
- Use a HEPA filter in your air conditioner and furnace to capture mold spores that may be airborne in your house.
- Consult a specialist if youâre not sure of the best way to clean a valuable or sentimental item.â
Are You Dizzy Or Lightheaded
Vertigo often results in feeling like the room is moving or spinning. Some people may feel lightheaded and are unable to distinguish between the two. Others may feel both at the same time.
There are some basic differences between these two conditions.
- When you feel lightheaded, you may suddenly feel that you need to sit down. When you do, the symptoms go away.In some cases, lightheadedness stems from low glucose levels. Eating something with probably help you cope with these symptoms. Drinking fluids may also improve your symptoms if your lightheadedness is the result of dehydration.
- With dizziness, you can expect symptoms to last even if you eat something or lie down. Some patients decide to stay in bed for a few hours or days. Solutions for dizziness due to allergies are different depending on whether or not the source of the allergy is food or airborne materials.
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The Link Between Allergies & Dizziness
Now that its winter, allergies arent top of mind for most people in Boone and Jefferson, but they can occur year-round. In fact, theres often a spike in December. After all, its the one month during the year where youre likely to find a tree taking up space in the living room. This can trigger the usual allergy symptoms, and might even make you feel dizzya fact thats got nothing to do with all those gift receipts youre filing away.
How Much Do Allergy Shots Cost
Health insurance typically covers allergy shots. You may have to pay a copay for each visit. Copays are usually nominal fees.
If you dont have health insurance, have a high deductible, or if allergy shots arent covered under your plan, you may end up spending thousands of dollars a year.
One large 2019 study looked at the costs of allergy shots for people with commercial insurance or Medicare Advantage with Part D. Researchers examined data gathered between 2013 and 2015.
- The cost of allergy shots for 131,493 people totaled $253,301,575. This averages out to around $1,926 per person.
- People with allergies covered about 19 percent of the total costs, while insurers covered about 81 percent.
- On average, treatment lasted 463.1 days .
Before beginning any treatment, talk with your doctor about payment options and costs.
Keep in mind that allergy shots are a long-term commitment. They require many injections, so youll want to plan accordingly if youre paying out of pocket.
Also consider that, over time, allergy shots could save you money on sick visits and over-the-counter allergy medications.
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Treatments And Management Of Dizziness
If you feel dizzy, the first thing you should do is sit or lie down somewhere safe.
If you are not taking allergy medication or managing your allergies in other ways, you may find relief from allergy symptoms, including dizziness, from some of these common allergy treatments. See an allergist for help deciding which one is right for you.
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Allergic Rhinitis And Dizziness
Dizziness, when associated with allergic rhinitis, is difficult to understand. However, as our allergy advisor Louise Baillie explains, it usually comes about as a result of other symptoms associated with the condition such as inflammation. Here Louise provides more information on the issue and offers some tips about the various treatment options available as well.
Louise BaillieAsk Louise
Treatments For Allergic Rhinitis From A Gp
If pharmacy medicines do not help ease your allergic rhinitis symptoms, a GP may prescribe a different medicine, such as prescription steroid nasal sprays or antihistamines.
You may be referred to a specialist for further tests and treatment if it’s not clear what’s causing your symptoms or they’re severe.
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What To Do If You Have These Symptoms
If youâre experiencing any of these symptoms related to allergies, youâre not alone: an estimated 67 million Americans experience allergies to some degree.
Many people can get a lot of relief with a few lifestyle adjustments:
â Change your homeâs air filters regularly.
â If outdoor allergies are a problem for you, avoid going outside between 5am and 10am. This is usually when the pollen count is highest.
â Shower, or at least wash your hair, everyday to remove allergens.
â Use allergy-safe covers for your pillows and mattresses.
â Change and wash your bedding regularly.
â Vacuum the floors often.
â Reduce clutter to create fewer places where dust, dander, and other allergens can collect.
â Avoid smoking or being around secondhand smoke.
Although these options can help reduce some of the symptoms and effects, your best option is to talk to your doctor or an allergy specialist.
The experts at Texan Allergy & Sinus Center have the tools and experience you need to determine the best way to treat and manage your symptoms. Donât wait any longer–request an appointment today!
How Do Allergy Shots Work
Allergy shots work by decreasing symptoms from particular allergens.
Each injection contains small amounts of the allergen so that your body builds up immunity to it over time. The process works much like taking a vaccine, where your body creates new antibodies to combat the invasive substances.
Allergy shots also improve the way other immune system cells and substances function in response to allergens. Eventually, successful immunotherapy helps the body fight off allergens and reduce adverse symptoms.
Allergy shots aim to decrease overall allergy symptoms over time. If you have allergic asthma, reduced asthma symptoms are also possible.
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The State Of East Coast Air In Fall 2021
For four season lovers on the East Coast, fall ushers in orange-red leaves, pumpkin patches, warm apple cider, and you guessed it, the potential for hurricanes. While living on or by the water is a huge plus for East Coasters, hurricane season leaves less to be desired. Because hurricanes can affect areas more than 100 miles inland, this weather event poses a threat to your familys and homes safety, no matter how far off the coast you reside.
For many, resulting air quality issues are often forgotten in the aftermath. Although hurricanes tend to be brief, yet disruptive, they can leave a lasting effect on your air quality once the storm rolls by. Plus, floodwaters and damage from high-speed winds and rain can lead to excess moisture in the air, leaving behind the potential for unwanted mold growth indoors.
Hurricane Season: What to Expect in 2021
Who could forget last years record-breaking season? According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , the 2020 season serves as a reminder to all residents in coastal regions or areas prone to inland flooding from rainfall to be prepared for the 2021 season. But, is 2021 predicted to be as worrisome as 2020? Yesand no.
Hurricane Season: Protecting Your Indoor Air Quality
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So What Are The Added Benefits Of Upgrading To Aprilaire Products When Dealing With Ventilation And Air Filtration
We found that, throughout the pandemic, so many people were cooped up in their houses, especially during the early phases when there were lockdowns. The pandemic created these conversations and awareness of Indoor Air Quality, and we had a lot of customersand even some of my family memberswho had pets and allergies who were experiencing the effects of poor indoor air. But when we add in the ventilation and air filtration systems, the feedback we would get on that is I dont have to use my inhaler like I did and I can tell the difference from when I go outside to when I come back in the house.
One of our customers that I worked closely with had a premature baby, and she shared that they did not want to leave the house. When they did, her sons breathing changed, and once they got back in the house, he was breathing much better. That was a direct result of having the appropriate amount of ventilation and filtration in place. This was a real eye-opening case of the added benefits of these systems. Yes, youre going to have a cleaner home, people can see that, but they dont understand that what youre breathing, and what your children are breathing, thats the big difference between not having the systems in place versus having them in place.
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Hay Fever Management And Treatment
Avoid triggers by making changes to your home and to your behavior.
- Keep windows closed during high pollen periods use air conditioning in your home and car.
- Wear glasses or sunglasses when outdoors to keep pollen out of your eyes.
- Use mite-proof bedding covers to limit exposure to dust mites and a dehumidifier to control mold. .
- Wash your hands after petting any animal, and have a nonallergic person help with pet grooming, preferably in a well-ventilated area or outside.
What people dont realize is most of the over-the-counter medicines are designed for milder allergies. For the people who have more moderate to severe allergy problems, its very rare that over the counter medicines are enough.
Allergist James Sublett, MD
Treatments For Hay Fever From A Gp
Your GP might prescribe a steroid treatment, such as a steroid nasal spray.
If steroids and other hay fever treatments do not work, your GP may refer you for immunotherapy.
This means you’ll be given small amounts of pollen as an injection or tablet to slowly build up your immunity to pollen.
This kind of treatment usually starts in the winter about 3 months before the hay fever season begins.
Immunotherapy is a specialist service that may not be available everywhere.
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Can Smelling Mold Make You Dizzy
These compounds are produced through fungal metabolism and are released directly into the air, often giving off strong or unpleasant odors. Exposure to mVOCs from molds can irritate the eyes and respiratory system and has been linked to symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, fatigue, nasal irritation and nausea.
Mohammad A Younus, M.D. contributes to topics such as Allergy and Immunology.
Have you ever felt faint, lightheaded or unsteady on your feet when you were experiencing an allergic reaction? It doesnt happen often, but there are a number of reasons why having allergies may make you feel dizzy.
Fortunately, its possible to treat dizziness caused by allergic reactions, which should help you feel steady and stable once again.
Dizziness is a rare but possible side effect of allergies, and once you identify the cause, its possible to treat it and feel like your usual self, says Mohammad Younus, M.D., an allergy and immunology specialist at Hackensack Meridian Health.
When youre having an allergic reaction, these factors may cause dizziness:
