Combating fall allergies in New Mexico

COMBATING FALL ALLERGIES IN NEW MEXICO

Homestyle's "Ask a Pro" features business experts answers to our readers' questions.

Dear TLC,

I am sniffing and my eyes are so watery it looks like I’ve been watching the Lifetime channel for days. What Gives? Miserable in the Manzanos

Dear Miserable:

Tis the season for swollen eyes, post nasal drip and head fog. If New Mexico’s second round of allergy season snuck up on you recently, you’re not alone and thankfully there are a few solutions. There are a number of notorious pollen allergens in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, namely juniper, chamisa, ragweed, mulberry, and cedar.

So what’s the best way to combat this abundant allergen? Though these usual plant suspects have a bad reputation, they may not be the ultimate cause of your symptoms. In a perfect world, simply closing our doors would effectively cut off the dry pollen and dust-filled air. Unfortunately, the reality is that your indoor air quality could be between 2 and 5 times more polluted than the outdoors according to the EPA. Indoor contaminants include things like mold, pollen growth, chemicals, pet dander, dust, cleaning solvents and viruses. All of these indoor pollutants can contribute to asthma symptoms, headaches, sneezing, and congestion.

If you’re barely surviving the one-two indoor-outdoor allergic punch, TLC has a good solution for you. We suggest a highly effective air cleaner that removes pollutants through a polarized device with a UVC lamp targeting germs and infectious agents. This system comes complete with a UVV system that removes chemical gases and odors, and is a great way to control indoor allergens.