Seasonal Allergies: 6 Tips For Sports During Hay Fever Facing Pollen Allergy Head-on In our last blog we covered the common problem of pollen allergies, which experts refer to as “hay fever,” “allergic rhinitis,” or “seasonal allergic rhinitis”. We also discussed the impact of pollen allergy on the bodies of athletes, and answered the burning question of “Can I exercise with seasonal allergies?” In this blog we’re going to delve deeper into ‘How one can mitigate allergy symptoms‘, but also ‘How face masks—and in particular NAROO’s sports masks—can keep you working out or competing outdoors without your body working against you’. Impact of hayfever on performance Nasal congestion caused by colds and hayfever can impair nasal function and affect sports performance and enjoyment. Hay fever symptoms can lead to sleep deprivation, anxiety, and increased fatigue, which can negatively impact athletic performance. However, hay fever has been shown to negatively impact sleep and mood, and can impair sports and athletic performance. Tip #1: How To Stop Pollen Allergy Symptoms? Seek Dedicated Allergy Medication Note: Please consult with your doctor before making any changes to your medication. Treating allergic symptoms with over-the-counter medication such as antihistamines and decongestants is very common. Unfortunately, navigating the effects some of them may have on the body of an athlete, as well as any potential legal complications for those competing professionally, is a stressful and lengthy process. That being said, it’s perfectly possible to find the medical solution that fits your body and needs as an athlete. Just make sure to consult with your personal physician and/or the physician of your sports medicine team if you’re a professional. Tip #2: Can pollen allergy cause difficulty breathing? Yes, So Control Your Indoor Environment As the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) says, “allergy and asthma control begins at home.” While staying inside may not be an option for most athletes, improving indoor air quality can reduce your overall exposure to allergy and asthma triggers. No one likes the idea of having to face how unhygienic our home, work, or car environment can be, but tackling those spaces room by room can spare you from much allergic grief. So remember to clean thoroughly, and look at your home air purifying options. Tip #3: How to Prevent Itchy Eyes? Protect Your Eyes During Allergy Season We tend to think of pollen allergy as something that only affects our upper and lower respiratory health, but those itchy, welling eyes you get with a faceful of spring aren’t due to the season’s breathtaking beauty. Allergies—including pollen-induced allergy—affect your ocular health in some pretty nasty, unwelcome ways. As an athlete, under the guidance of your doctor, you can wear contact lenses, glasses, or goggles in order to protect your eyes, but beware of the downsides to the first, such as the increased risk of bacterial infection, irritation, and more. Tip #4: Check Pollen Count to Help Allergies Checking your area’s latest pollen count can significantly help you when you’re planning outdoor exercise. While pollen levels are usually at their highest “before dawn and in the late afternoon to early evening”, your reaction to them has many variables. It’s therefore advisable to keep track of them through a regularly updated pollen forecast. Thankfully, there are many pollen monitoring stations in the world, so you are most likely to find accurate information about the presence and quantities of pollen in your area. Tip #5: How to Avoid Pollen Allergies? A Well-Balanced Diet According to the study “Dietary Interventions in Pollen-Related Food Allergy,” “up to 90% of pollen-sensitized individuals are allergic to foods that cross-react with pollen”. After all, our dietary habits affect our health in many ways, so it stands to reason that even seasonal allergies would have their ties to them. As Sarah Garone, NDTR of Healthline advises, “from reducing inflammation to boosting the immune system, there are a number of dietary choices that may help mitigate the miseries of seasonal allergies.” You may also benefit from avoiding foods connected to the type of pollen you are most allergic to. Tip #6: Use a face mask for relief. Wear a Pollen Allergy Mask Nothing will protect your nasal cavity, and respiratory system better than face coverings, and as a new study conducted in Turkey supports, “face mask usage can be considered a preventive measure to minimize allergen exposure in high-risk environments.” When exercising outdoors and being exposed directly to irritants, a face mask is a must-have sports accessory for protecting your airways. As pollen particle sizes typically range from 9μm (microns) to 200μm, surgical masks—which filter particles as small as 3μm—are a good option, and even cloth masks can help. That being said, these specific types of masks are not very sports-friendly options for any athlete on the go. This is where sports masks that counteract allergies come into play, and where we at NAROO can help you stay active while staying pollen-free. Why NAROO Sports Masks? Unlike the typical go-to options for masks—N95 respirators, surgical, or cloth masks—NAROO’s sports masks are designed and developed for athletes. Our filtering F-Series is not only made to filter particles as small as 1.7μm, but offers more breathability, reusability, and variety than most heavy-duty options, while improving on their filtering capabilities. An athlete who needs to comfortably and safely train outdoors—be it going on a simple run, cycling, or preparing for a professional event—needs a reliable, flexible, breathable filtering mask specifically designed for rigorous activity. NAROO masks do not require a change of filter, and retain their properties even after being washed 100 times. They are a dependable, scientifically certified solution made for reducing your exposure to pollen without reducing your time outdoors. “Intended for everyday use and for amateur and professional athletics, NAROO face covers protect people on the go in environments with pollen, dust, in hot or cold weather. They are easy-breathing and filter out environmental agents that cause breathing difficulties or trigger allergy.” — AllergyUK “Both the NAROO Mask F.U+ and F.U+ Copper are masks worth considering if you are looking for a new form of pollution protection. The masks
Natural remedy for allergies: Relief that you might be missing There is nothing quite like the great outdoors in spring, and there is nothing quite like the hit that this beautiful season can inflict on the human body. As inspiring as nature may be in full bloom, pollen allergy is an all too familiar enemy of many, including athletes. As with everything in life, there is bad news and good news here; yes, pollen could definitely jeopardize or ruin your sports goals during allergy season, but there are ways to protect yourself and your performance from it apart from medication. What Are Pollen Allergies? Pollen allergy—sometimes commonly referred to as “hay fever,” “allergic rhinitis,” or as “seasonal allergic rhinitis” by experts—is an allergic reaction to the pollen produced by plants and carried around by the wind. With one in five people being affected by it at some point in their life, it is most likely you either face it yourself, or at the very least have encountered it through family, friends, or peers. In Western countries, between 10% and 30% of people are affected. Hay fever usually appears with allergy symptoms such as: Itching in your nose, roof of your mouth, throat, and eyes Sneezing Stuffy nose (congestion) Runny nose Tearing eyes Dark circles under the eyes If these—especially a combination of them—sound familiar, particularly during pollen season then you know the culprit behind them. Now, while many of these symptoms are annoying, allergic rhinitis itself can also cause a variety of other issues that can range from significant hindrances to significant dangers. For one, those who are allergic to pollen are also prone to allergic conjunctivitis (eye allergy). But it is also theorized that upper respiratory inflammation can lead to lower respiratory issues as well. According to Yale Medicine allergist Florence Ida Hsu, MD, “You’ll find people with allergies getting recurrent sinus infections, and both can lead to respiratory symptoms, asthma, and bronchitis.” While there is a lot we still do not know about allergies, we do know that seasonal allergic rhinitis “… is often hereditary as to whether or not we develop allergies, which means it can be passed down through genes from parents to their children.” We also know that climate change is making them worse in the long-term. It is therefore always advisable to consult with your physician if you think or feel you may be affected. Most common natural remedies and techniques for allergies relief Reduce your exposure to allergy triggers In other words, stay at home, but as an athlete can you stay at home all season? In other words, stay at home, but as an athlete can you stay at home all season? It is recommended that you stay indoors during the peak hours when symptoms are most likely to occur and exercise later in the day, around sunset. During this time, the amount of spores scattered is low and the wind is light, so there will be no irritants flying into your eyes, nose, or mouth. It is also effective to choose a grass-free area for exercise to avoid stirring up spores. Clearing the sinuses Rinsing the nasal passages with saline solution (nasal rinse) is a quick, inexpensive, and effective way to relieve nasal congestion. It directly washes mucus and allergens out of the nose. Saline solution can be purchased ready-made or in a kit and added to water. If using a kit or homemade saline solution, use bottled water to reduce the risk of infection. Alternative Treatments Many natural remedies have been used to treat hay fever symptoms. Treatments that may improve symptoms include extracts of the shrub Butterbur, Spirulina (a type of dried algae), and other herbal medicines. Due to the limited number of clinical trials designed, there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of these therapies. Acupuncture has shown limited benefit potential, but research results are mixed. How Does Pollen Affect Us As Outdoor Lovers? According to several studies, allergic rhinitis is more common in athletes than previously thought, with endurance athletes in particular having a high prevalence of it (44% of athletes). When you breathe harder and longer—which is common when exercising or competing as an athlete—you inhale a larger amount of allergens and irritants over a longer period of time. According to Katelaris et al., 2000, allergic rhinitis impairs physical performance in professional athletes by affecting sleep, decreasing the ability to concentrate or reducing physical fitness. The same study also concluded that athletes are more prone to asthma. In the survey of 214 athletes representing 12 Olympic sports, 21% reported having experienced asthma. All is not bleak, however. If you are now wondering “Can I exercise with seasonal allergies?” The answer is absolutely, YES. You simply have to exercise more cautious than others. There are many ways to reduce the health risks and comfort issues brought by pollen allergy. The tricky part is choosing—and balancing—between prevention and treatment. As Medical News Today states, “medical treatments, home remedies, and changes in some lifestyle habits can help ease symptoms of pollen allergy.” At the same time, it’s impossible to be completely free of them through treatment alone. It is necessary for you to also consider how to avoid exposure to these allergens in the first place. Staying indoors and fortifying your home environment does help, but an athlete needs that safety and comfort level on the go. Natural remedy for allergies: Wear your face mask for relief So if you need a face covering to tackle pollen head on, what is the best allergy mask to go for? Well, for one, any reduction in exposure is better than full exposure. According to a study by the Nippon Medical School in Tokyo, Japan, standard non-woven fabric surgical facemasks and glasses with side guard protection can help to a degree, but they cannot go up against wind speed and direction. N95 respirators do a better job at filtering pollen particles out, but they are some of the least comfortable, least breathable to exercise or compete with.
Do Pollution Air Masks Cause Breathing Problems? If you live in a place with high air pollution levels, you’re probably familiar with all of the ways to cope with this major public health issue. You can invest in an air purifier, clean regularly, stay inside, and wear a mask if you have to go out. But if you’re an athlete or a person who likes the outdoors, staying inside can keep you from doing what you love. So what is the solution for athletes and people who like to enjoy the outdoors? Before we get to that, let’s take a look at the common concerns of people who live in places with high pollution. Concerns about wearing pollution air masks One of the biggest worries people have about wearing a pollution air mask is that we won’t be able to breathe. The thought of covering our noses and mouths seems like it may be uncomfortable or cause shortness of breath. Dr. Evelyn Lewin and many other doctors have done research that addresses our concerns. In an article she published in October 2020 she explains that face masks don’t affect gas exchange, which basically means we still get the air we need while wearing a mask. This is good news. However, that doesn’t make them any easier to wear. This is not so good news. In hot weather, they can get too hot. In the cold weather, the moisture from your breath can freeze, making the mask uncomfortable and less effective. They are sealed on all sides of the face, which can make you feel smothered. Or alternatively, improperly sealed masks can send warm air up into your eyes. In general, they just seem quite uncomfortable and not worth wearing despite heavy pollution. What the experts say about wearing pollution air masks Our worries about wearing masks are real concerns. These concerns inspired doctors and research experts all over the world to research and explain how wearing masks can affect our breathing and our lives. Even though doctors have found that masks allow us to get the air we need, they are still uncomfortable, which can cause us anxiety. Canada-based lung specialist Christpher Ewing tells us that when we feel discomfort, the way we breathe can change. He says that it is important to give ourselves time to get used to wearing pollution air masks. It’s like taking time to get used to a new pair of glasses. How do pollution masks work? Pollution masks can stop pollution from entering your lungs and affecting your entire body in several ways. Fabric choice: Different kinds of fabrics can filter pollutants with varying effectiveness. Most pollution masks use a combination of fabrics to create an effective filter. Fabric thickness and layering: The thicker the fabric, the more effective the filter. Combined with layering of fabrics, this makes for an effective mask. Stitching choice: Pollution masks should be tightly stitched or else they are not effective at all. The choice of stitching is key to a good pollution mask. Mask fit: How a mask fits may be the single most crucial aspect of a pollution mask. If it does not seal tightly to your face, pollution can get in. A good pollution mask creates a seal from your nose, to your cheeks, to your chin. No unfiltered air should get in. Copper: Some masks have begun to include copper as a filtration aid as it has native antimicrobial properties, making the masks not only effective against pollution, but bacteria as well. Using the methods above, an effective pollution mask should filter pollutants of at least 2.5 microns in size in order to truly be an anti-pollution mask. But can pollution masks really protect us as athletes? Short answer: Yes. The longer answer is dependent on if the mask is well constructed and even better fitted. Tight stitching is paramount as well as the layering of the fabric. If the mask doesn’t fit properly, it is essentially useless against pollution. Masks should also be tested by accredited third party institutions to be sure that they can filter pollutants at least as small as 2.5 microns in size. That is the size of many of the most harmful particles that need to be functionally trapped by a good pollution mask. If they can, then you have found a good pollution mask. A key point in a pollution mask for an athlete is comfort. This is also protection as an uncomfortable mask we don’t want to wear is not protection at all. A good mask for our outdoor adventures needs to be comfortable. What does NAROO have to do with it? NAROO knows what athletes need: a breathable, functional pollution mask that will let them exercise safely. With that in mind, we created the F Series, which is a set of filtering masks that address the concerns of mask wearers, and of sports people wanting to head outdoors. Are the masks breathable? Yes. This is the one quality that sets this line apart from other pollution masks and makes it especially suited for sports people. Our masks are easy to breathe in. Do they have testing certifications? Yes, we have certifications proving their effectiveness as pollution masks. Do they create a seal? The masks seal against the face and shield it from pollutants. The bendable nose wire allows it to fit to the nose and under eye area snugly while the stitching of the knit fabric hugs the cheeks and chin to seal it. What size particles do they filter? They filter particles as small as 1.7 microns, catching not only normal pollutants but ultrafine particles. Do they use tight stitching? Our masks are made with a special knit that allow them to be both breathable and stitched tightly enough to catch pollutants. What about discomfort in the heat and the cold? The F Series have many different masks that are suited for use in hot and cold weather. Moisture-wicking fabric allows for any perspiration or condensation