The calendar says March, and that means many of us will soon be feeling the effects of pollen and other seasonal allergens. This problem can be made worse by indoor air pollution, created by cooking, cleaning, and just everyday living.

Pollen, dust, and molds are allergens that cause an inflammation of the mucus lining of the nose called allergic rhinitis—sneezing, runny nose, itchy and watering eyes. What some don’t realize, however, is that many everyday indoor activities contribute to indoor air pollution that can make rhinitis worse. Cooking, for instance, can release many pollutants in to the indoor air. When cooking, open doors and windows and use extractor fans to help ventilate the air. Indoor open fires and some heating systems also produce indoor pollutants. Avoid burning scented candles and incense as they emit compounds that can be problematic. Lemon and pine scented cleaning products can also aggravate symptoms-- while not known to be harmful they can still be converted to compounds that exacerbate allergy problems. Always open windows when cleaning if possible.

Our store front end is now open to the public, so ask our pharmacists and check out our seasonal allergy endcap for treatment options.