Weplay Moms

Spring is a wonderful time of year to be an athlete. Birds are chirping, the weather is warming, children are playing and flowers are sprouting. The fields of play are in pristine condition and outdoor enjoyment is at an all-time high. This enjoyment, however, might be held in check if you suffer from seasonal allergies.

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During my time as a mother I’ve learned a few things with regard to allergies. The first thing is that the battle against allergies starts at home. Many of the common allergy triggers: dust mites, mold, and pollen are found right in our homes. If you want to battle allergies, try and take the following precautions:

BE SURE TO WASH SPORTS EQUIPMENT AFTER EACH USE

Imagine getting ready for an important day of competition, only to put on a lacrosse helmet that’s full of pollen from a previous game! Your day would head south pretty quickly! It’s extremely important to keep in mind that allergens come home from the field with your athlete, and that they stay on helmets, jerseys, gloves, cleats, etc. The most important places to wash are the insides of helmets and caps, as these are closest to the eyes and mouth of your children. You can stop allergies before they start.

FURTHERMORE, AROUND THE HOUSE:

• Keep the house cool, right around 70 degrees
• Keep the house well ventilated, dust likes to settle into places where there is no moving air
• Try and keep the humidity down, between 40 and 50%
• Newer bedding material that is very similar to down has recently been released to the market. It’s possible to wash these new materials with soap and water, where down had to be sent out to the dry cleaner. Keeping clean bedding is a great way to combat allergies.
• Keep carpets out of the bathroom
• Try to clean out places like the basement and attics twice a year. These lesser-trafficked places of the house are hotbeds for dust and mold.

If you take these preventative measures, you can rest easy that you’ve done all you can to minimize allergens for you and your family. Obviously, it’s impossible to completely squash allergies, and you’ll occasionally have to deal with those watery eyes and runny noses. When these symptoms do strike, you should keep an antihistamine on hand to relieve symptoms. Have a good day!