Words Cannot Express How Ready I Am For Ragweed Season To Be Over.

Words cannot express how ready I am for ragweed season to be over.

Also, reminder, if you have allergies and or asthma, we are entering into Peak Weak when ragweed, plant from hell that it is, will be going into peak pollen season, and also viruses are on the rise as flu and the common cold viruses start to emerge.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeannecroteau/2019/09/16/its-asthma-peak-week–heres-how-to-get-ready/#41484caf7d0f

Some helpful advice from the above article if you are prone to allergies, have asthma, are immunocompromised or know someone who is:

Take off your shoes and change into indoor clothing when you enter your home

Keep doors and windows closed during peak allergen season

Use an air filter that is certified asthma and allergy-friendly (HEPA works best)

Shower before going to bed

Seriously, that last one? You don’t realize how much pollen you carry with you into your home, and if you don’t shower it goes into your bedsheets, a place that should be a haven for you. (And then you have to wash your bedding more than you really want to and it’s just a whole ordeal.)

I know not all of us have the energy or capability to shower every day, but if you are the spouse, friend or loved one of someone who is immunocompromised in any way, please be aware of what you are bringing into the home during this season. Vulnerable people can die during Peak Weak, it’s like the perfect storm of illness and allergic reaction bullshit. We’re also starting to see early cases of flu, so if you are able to do so, please get vaccinated before the flu season fully hits. You’ll be doing yourself a favor and those around you who rely on herd immunity to not get sick.

Also a reminder to fellow vogmask users! If you’ve had your vogmask in use for over 6 months, now is the time to replace it! Vogmasks are also not ideal for protecting you against cold and flu season, they can help, but given the unwashable nature of the vogmask (due to the filter) they can actually begin to harbor bacteria, so while they are great for pollution and pollen, not so great for flu! If you do need to wear a face mask during winter, swap for something that can be washed/sterilized at high temperatures, or switch to throw-away paper masks which can be worn once and then discarded. Never re-use a paper mask, and always be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after swapping them out.

You can read more about different types of masks and their effectiveness against cold and flu here:

https://www.healthline.com/health/cold-flu/mask#2

Stay safe out there!

I’m going back to bed and hopefully, when I wake up tomorrow I won’t still be one giant hive.