So, I received an email that informed me a recent study says that Jackson, MS tops the list of cities with the worst allergies, and I thought: I didn’t need a study to tell me that.
Seriously….We don’t have an allergy season here, do we? It’s ALWAYS allergy season here. In fact, I find that when someone I know is complaining about having allergies or sinus infections, I have to fight to keep from rolling my eyes.
Hello?
WE ALL DO.
Some weeks are worse than others though. This week, everyone in my house is sneezing. And, one of the littles is….well…there’s just no tactful way to say this…Let’s just say, her beautiful face is under there somewhere.
Thankfully, I have been able to find it much more easily thanks to these:
Truly…they’re so soft she doesn’t even run away when I try to wipe her nose.
And, I am so thankful for them because I have a very annoying problem: whenever I have a runny nose, I always end up with something like a fever blister that covers the entire tip of my nose, and the inside, too. It’s painful, and it’s UGLY. These are helping to prevent that!
I’ll be honest: I’ve never thought much about tissues before. When I need them, I grab them. I stopped to read a bit about these though and found a few interesting facts:
- Scotties are made right here in the USA. That’s nice to know!
- SCOTTIES products are made from new-wood fibres of trees from J.D. Irving, Limited’s forests. As part of J.D. Irving, Limited’s commitment to responsible forest management, J.D. Irving, Limited plants seedlings every spring and summer to reforest the woodlands. In the past 50+ years, J.D. Irving, Limited has planted over 850 million trees. Since 2001, J.D. Irving’s forests have been certified by The Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. (“SFI”). Their promise is: “We plant three trees for every one we use to produce SCOTTIES products.” This means that three seedlings will be planted in the spring and summer for every one used to produce SCOTTIES products the previous year. The number of trees planted will be based on the estimated number of trees used to generate the fibre to make SCOTTIES products sold the previous year. The calculation of the number of seedlings and the plantings will be verified by KPMG’s certified auditors. That means you can feel good about buying SCOTTIES.
- Scotties are Hypoallergenic and made without the use of inks or dyes.
- You can buy Scotties in bulk on Amazon.com. You can purchase them here.
You can also enter to win a Scotties care pack and a $25 gift certificate! Just use the widget below to enter! The giveaway ends at midnight Sunday (Ok…technically that’s Monday!).
Of course, Scotties tissues alone won’t help you fight your way through allergy season life in Mississippi, so here are some tips to help you keep your nose from running, your eyes from watering and your kids from looking like the Blob has taken up residence on their precious little faces.
10 Allergy-Fighting Tricks You May Not Have Tried
Wear Sunglasses to Keep Pollen Out of Your Eyes
An estimated 35 million Americans experience hay fever caused by wind-borne pollen or mold spores. Wearing sunglasses outside can reduce the amount of pollen or spores that get into your eyes. Allergy-irritated eyes are also more sensitive to sunlight, so stylish shades may help your eyes feel better, too. “The best kinds of sunglasses to wear are dark glasses that wrap around to block as much wind pollen as possible,” Dr. Hong says.
Ditch Pollen-Producing Indoor Plants
“Indoor houseplants that flower aren’t likely to cause a pollen allergy, because most flowering plants are pollinated by insects,” Hong explains. “But indoor plant soil can let plenty of mold spores into your house.” If you have hay fever or a mold allergy, keep houseplants to a minimum and definitely keep them out of your bedroom. The biggest offenders are indoor shrubs, trees, and grasses that may produce pollens.
Kill Dust Mites With a Hot Wash
One of the biggest causes of indoor allergies is the dust mite. These microscopic insects love to live on your bedding and stuffed animals. Hong advises washing all of your bedding in hot water and drying it in a hot dryer to kill dust mites. Keep stuffed animals off the bed, and wash sheets and blankets at least once a week in water that’s 130° F or higher to limit the effects of this indoor-allergy culprit.
Take a Vacation From Pollen
Hay fever is also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis, because pollens tend to be worse in specific seasons when trees, grasses, and weeds pollinate. If you can identify your trigger season, you may be able to avoid the worst pollen exposure by getting out of town for at least part of it. The beach is a great place to escape from pollen. But let’s face it: It’s hard to take a vacation that lasts an entire allergy season, so avoid pollen at home by staying inside as much as possible when pollen counts are high, especially at mid-morning and on windy days.
Adjust Home Humidity to Control Mold
Mold thrives in moisture. To help control indoor mold, use a dehumidifier or your air conditioner to keep your home humidity close to 50 percent. Take the guesswork out of measuring indoor humidity with a device called a hygrometer. It’s also important to clean up water spills promptly, fix any leaks, and change the filters in your air conditioner and heating ducts regularly.
Travel Wisely During Pollen and Mold Seasons
If you take a road trip when the pollen count is high, make sure to keep your car windows closed. Before you begin your trip, start the car and turn on the air conditioner, then get out and let the air inside the car cool. If you can, travel early in the morning or in the evening. Also avoid vacationing in a high-allergy destination. For example, you might want to stay away from damp, cold climates because of mold, and damp tropical climates because of mites, molds, and pollens.
Clean Trouble Spots Well for Indoor Allergy Control
Windows, curtains, and blinds are the preferred hiding places for dust and mold. These indoor allergy culprits can also set up shop in poorly ventilated laundry rooms, basements, refrigerator drain pans, and old books. Hong suggests wiping down bathroom and kitchen areas with diluted bleach, and vacuuming your floors often. If you have an allergy to cleaning products in addition to the mold and dust, wear a mask when cleaning and get out of the house for a few hours afterward to let the air clear.
Keep Outdoor Pollens Outside
Take some simple precautions to keep outdoor pollens out of your home. Wear a mask if you work outside, and remove your work clothes before entering the house. It’s also good to shower right after coming in from yard work.
When you do laundry, use a dryer instead of hanging your clothes outside. Leave all windows in the house closed during allergy season, and rely on your air conditioner or dehumidifier to help protect you from indoor allergies.
Control Irritants Along With Allergens
If you have outdoor or indoor allergies, any substance that irritates your airways can make your symptoms worse. Don’t smoke in your home, kindly ask house guests to smoke outside, and avoid wood fires and wood-burning stoves. Strong odors such as perfumes, paint fumes, hair sprays, disinfectants, and air fresheners can also set off an allergy attack.
Get Rid of Roaches and Rats
Studies have shown that cockroaches are a surprisingly common cause of indoor allergy symptoms and asthma, especially in children. Remove water and food sources that may attract cockroaches, and if you see a cockroach, get professional help. “That goes for rodents, too,” says Hong.
If you or someone in your family is struggling with indoor allergies or hay fever, talk to your doctor. In addition to these smart strategies, there are many treatments to help ease symptoms.
For the full article, please visit http://www.everydayhealth.com/allergy-pictures/easy-allergy-fighting-tricks-you-may-not-have-tried.aspx#11
Disclosure: I received a care pack of Scotties to try and an Amazon Gift Card for this post. The allergies (and the opinions I have about them) are all mine though!
Benedryl!
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Benedryl!