If you’re one of the millions of Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies, you know how unpleasant allergy symptoms can be. Seasonal allergy symptoms like sneezing, watery eyes and congestion are distracting and impact the quality of your day. The best way to prevent allergy symptoms is to avoid your allergic triggers in the first place, but that’s easier said than done. Moreover, allergens, like pollen, are excellent travelers and can still affect you despite your best efforts. You may not consider how much your car can impact your seasonal allergies.
Allergens In and On Your Car
Pollen and other allergens have multiple ways to follow you into your car, but there are ways to combat the problem. Here are some ways allergens can enter the car, and ways to deal with them.
The Air Conditioner
Allergy season is also the warm season, so you might be cranking up the air conditioner in your car. However, the AC draws air into the car from the outside, which blows floating allergens straight into the vehicle. Hit the cabin air recirculation button when you run the air conditioning, so it pulls air from inside the car instead of the outside.
The Air Filter
You should also check the air filter. It’s typically located behind the glove box, and its function is to clean the air that passes through the vents. If the air filter is worn out or clogged, it cannot function properly, and more allergens will be able to get through. Consider changing the air filter every year just before allergy season kicks off.
The Exterior
Many cars spend a lot of time parked outside, such as on a driveway or parking lot. That gives pollen plenty of time to land on the car. Touching the door handle will get the pollen on your hands, and opening the door will spray those allergens right back into the air. Consider getting your car washed frequently during peak allergy season to keep the pollen off.
The Seats
You may unknowingly be carrying allergens into your car on your clothes and shoes. These allergens may linger in the vehicle for long periods of time, especially if you have fabric seats. Vacuum the interior often, and consider non-fabric seats the next time you’re shopping for a new car.
Traffic-Related Air Pollution
Air pollution is a major problem in the industrialized world, and studies show that air pollution has a direct effect on human allergies. Car exhaust is one key contributor to air pollution. Not only does soot in the air from car exhaust directly irritate our allergies, but it also affects the growing season of plants and the release of pollen, making the season last longer and allergic effects more prominent.
How To Manage Allergy Symptoms
There are several options available that can help you treat your allergy symptoms and provide that much-needed relief. Over-the-counter medications are a great place to start, and you could even keep a pack of antihistamines in your car in case symptoms flare up on the road. If those aren’t providing the relief you need, contact our talented team of allergists and make an appointment to discuss treatment and get more information.