We have all often heard that maintaining a healthy lifestyle such as eating healthy food, drinking lots of water, and doing physical exercise is the key to ensuring our overall well-being. But, is all this really enough to stay healthy and prevent diseases? Well, have you ever thought about the quality of the air you breathe in? We generally overlook checking the air quality we breathe in and expose ourselves to the risk of infections and other health diseases.
Nevertheless, with the rapid development and industrialization, there has been an increase in the number of pollutant emissions causing air pollution. Breathing in polluted air can lead to adverse health effects, including allergies. Besides, be it children, adults, or elderly people, air pollution can potentially affect their well-being, which emphasizes the need to take protective measures to keep them safe.
Effect of pollution on health
Pollution allergies are the most common health menace faced by people living in urban areas that are highly polluted due to factors like emissions from factories, cars, fossil fuels, etc. Continuous sneezing, itchy and runny nose, watery eyes, fatigue, cough, etc., are some of the symptoms of allergies caused due to pollution.
While you might not be able to completely isolate yourself from being exposed to a polluted environment, you can try some methods to avoid catching these allergies, such as wearing a face mask, avoiding touching your face, etc.
The following are some of the factors responsible for allergies:
- Pollens
- Smog
- Dust particles
- Cigarette smoke
If you are also exposed to polluted air, you must know about ways to prevent these allergies. So, keep reading. We have discussed below some preventive measures that will help you stay safe from allergies caused by air pollution.
Measures to prevent pollution allergies
- Monitor Air Quality Index
It is recommended that you keep track of the air quality index in your locality on a daily basis so that you are aware of when it’s too risky to go outside. Accordingly, you can reschedule your activities. In particular, when the air quality is highly unhealthy, people that are suffering from respiratory conditions must avoid going outdoors to prevent any health concerns.
- Wear a Face Mask
While going out, prefer wearing a face mask to limit your exposure to harmful pollutants in the air. Preferably, N95 face masks are recommended for covering the nose and mouth in order to acquire protection against pollen allergens that trigger allergies. Additionally, make sure that your mask fits snugly over the bridge of your nose and completely covers the whole mouth.
- Practice Hygiene
Maintaining proper hygiene can help you get rid of pollutants or allergens from your body. Make a bath routine after coming back home from the outside to ensure you don’t carry any allergy-triggering substances with you. Similarly, maintaining hygiene while being outdoors will include washing hands thoroughly or using a hand sanitizer to avoid common infections.
- Maintain Indoor Safety
Pollutants and allergens can affect your body not only outside, but inside your home as well. Thus, while you follow preventive measures outdoors, ensure that your indoor air quality is safe too. For instance, using an air filter at home, keeping your windows closed on days with bad AQI, and installing dehumidifiers can help you protect yourself.
Nevertheless, there are various treatment options for curing allergies caused by pollution, but it is always best to follow prevention measures first. After all, we all know that “precaution is better than cure.” Hopefully, the above-mentioned tips will help you stay safe from these allergies. However, if you are already facing any of the symptoms, it is suggested that you seek help from medical professionals and seek the right treatment.
