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

If in doubt, an allergy to grass (and other) pollens can result in one or more of the following:

• red, sore, watery eyes
• stuffy nose and/or sneezing
• skin rashes and blemishes in addition to a general “itch”
• a blocked and runny throat
• a tickly cough perhaps combined with wheezing
• sinus headache
• a general feeling of malaise.

Of course, if you suffer from any of these symptoms, it would always be wise to see 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 derided by many, including some health professionals, as trivial or “in the mind.”

In today’s more progressive times, it is recognized as a potentially significant problem that can seriously reduce patients’ effectiveness at work or when performing household tasks.

There are some medications you can take to help and your doctor will discuss these with you, including traditional antihistamines, although other treatments are also possible. They may also recommend some tests 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 want to consider some additional tips that may be helpful.

• Depending on your specific allergy, research what times of the day offer the best working conditions. Some pollens are much more active in the early morning and others in the late afternoon, etc. Avoid those moments!
• 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 you’re primarily affected by your eyes, consider goggles, but you’ll need special varieties that don’t have unfiltered vents or you’ll be wasting your time.
• Consider wearing coveralls and ‘covering up’ if 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 to, for example, crop dust or just dust thrown up when driving on the dirt. Another culprit is often house dust, the biggest component of which is dead human skin cells! If you are truly allergic to crop dust and related problems, then you may need to follow some of the steps above or also consider working in a vehicle with a cabin that provides filtered air.
• When you’re done cutting, be sure to undress outside the house and try to take a quick shower once inside. There’s not much point in keeping lots of pollen on your overalls and mask if you then take it all home at the end of the day, shaking it off as you go!

Most employers are sympathetic to employees suffering from hay fever, so if you need something to help you get through the day and function properly, let them know.

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