More than 50 million Americans experience various types of allergies each year. If you’re among the group that has a fully stocked medicine cabinet with eyedrops, nasal sprays, and antihistamines, a recent HealthDay article stated that wearing a mask in public to prevent the spread of COVID-19 may have another helpful impact – guarding you against severe spring allergies.
According to Dr. Do-Yeon Cho, an associate professor of otolaryngology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, many patients who suffer from seasonal allergies are having an easier time this year because they’re spending more time indoors and wearing a mask when they go outside.
“A study that came out in 2020 showed that allergic rhinitis [hay fever] symptoms among nurses had been significantly reduced with face mask usage during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Cho said in a university news release.
Along with wearing a mask, there are additional ways to reduce seasonal allergy symptoms.
- Identifying your allergens.
- Monitor the pollen count in your area if you are allergic to pollens and limit outdoor activities when pollen counts are high.
- Take allergy medicine before pollen season begins.
- Bathe and shampoo daily to wash off any pollens you may have encountered during the day.
With the help of these preventative steps – plus your mask – spring 2021 may be an easier allergy season for those typically affected.
For more information about allergic rhinitis and it’s symptoms and treatment, visit familydoctor.org.
