Hay fever and lawn mowing: some solutions

Do you have symptoms of hay fever when you mow the lawn?

When in doubt, an allergy to grass pollen (and others) can lead to one or more of the following:

• red, sore, and watery eyes

• stuffy nose and / or sneezing

• rashes and blemishes on the skin plus a general ‘itch’

• a blocked and cold-laden throat

• a tickling cough perhaps combined with wheezing

• sinus headaches

• a general feeling of discomfort.

Of course, if you suffer from any of these symptoms, it would always be sensitive to ask a doctor to verify your assumptions about hay fever as a cause. However, assuming it is, what can you do about it?

Do not ignore it

Hay fever was once laughed at by many, including some health professionals, as trivial or “in the mind.”

In today’s more enlightened times, it is recognized to be a potentially significant problem that can seriously reduce the effectiveness of sufferers at work or when performing household chores.

There are some medications you can take to help and your doctor will discuss these with you, including traditional antihistamines, although other treatments are possible as well. They may also recommend that some tests be done to try to identify specifically what type of pollen or dust you are allergic to.

Precautions

In some cases, those who work with farm machinery and lawn mowers may consider some additional tips that may help.

• Depending on your specific allergy, research what times of the day offer the best working conditions. Some pollens are much more active first thing in the morning and others late at night, etc. Avoid those times!

• If the main effects on you are related to the respiratory tract and throat, consider wearing a mask. Make sure it is rated for pollen removal.

• If your eyes are primarily affected, think about glasses, but you’ll need special varieties that don’t have unfiltered vents or you’ll be wasting your time.

• Consider wearing a jumpsuit and ‘covering up’ if the worst effects are skin related. There are also some barrier creams that can be effective.

• Remember that some allergies commonly called “hay fever” have nothing to do with pollen. Your allergies may be due, for example, to harvest dust or simply to dust that is kicked up when driving on the dirt. Another culprit is often house dust, the largest component of which is dead human skin cells! If you are really allergic to dust harvesting and related issues, then you will need to follow some of the steps above or also consider working on a vehicle with a cabin that provides filtered air.

• When you’re done cutting, be sure to undress outside the house and try to shower quickly once inside. It doesn’t make much sense to keep a lot of pollen on your jumpsuit and mask if you then bring it all home at the end of the day, shaking it off as you move!

Most employers sympathize with employees who suffer from hay fever, so if you need something to help you get through the day and perform properly, let them know.

If it’s a personal problem rather than a work-related one, you may need to ask your spouse, children, or a willing neighbor to help you out in peak allergy season.