The autumnal equinox is almost upon us (it officially occurs on 22-23 September, according to Wikipedia. While this heralds relief from sweltering summer days, it also means new concerns for allergy sufferers.

One of the most potent allergens in the fall is ragweed, a pollen from the sunflower family. Each ragweed plant produces a whopping one billion pollen grains per season. And, the grains can travel as far as 400 miles because they are so lightweight.

The good news for us in Atlanta is that this last week of almost incessant rain will hopefully do a lot to wash the pollen away. However, it’s still a good idea to defend against this pervasive allergen.

Here’s a brief checklist of ways to minimize reactions to ragweed:

• As tempting as it is to throw windows open during these cooler days, keep windows closed to keep the pollen out of your home. When you do open windows, be sure to use window filters.
• Keep car windows closed too. You may also purchase accessories such as car shades.
• Consider removing shoes at the door and having guests do the same; this will lessen the amount of pollen tracked all over the house.
• Use an air purifier to help capture the pollen that will inevitably get into your house.
• Check pollen counts and stay indoors when pollen counts are high. Peak pollen counts usually occur between 10 in the morning and 4 in the afternoon.
• Practice overall allergen avoidance. It’s important to keep your Total Allergen Load as low as possible, so while your system is being bombarded with ragweed pollen, make sure to minimize your exposure to other allergens. Avoid exposure to chemicals and use allergy relief bedding.