Bless You, Bay Area: The Pollen Is Personal

We’re feeling the full force of spring allergies and breaking down why pollen season seems more intense this year, especially around the Bay Area. We also share practical ways to tell allergies from a cold and what to do when your symptoms are wearing you out. 
• quick life update after spending time with my kids 
• why climate change can mean earlier blooms and longer pollen seasons 
• how wind, rain patterns, and higher CO2 can raise pollen exposure 
• simple prevention steps like closing windows and showering after outdoors 
• over-the-counter options and timing meds before symptoms ramp up 
• allergy vs cold signs like itching, fever, mucus type, and duration 
• home remedies like daily organic honey and other holistic approaches 
• quick reality TV detour on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette news 
If you have any tips or tricks that you would like to share in regards to allergies, I'd love to hear them. Please, if you are a loyal listener, it means so much if you remember to like the podcast, comment on the podcast, and share.

Transcript

Welcome To Mindful Monday

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Wow wow What's up party people? Welcome to another episode of L Kivate Your Life. I am your hostess with the most S. L is in the letter L and key as in the key to your heart. Well here we are on another mindful Monday, March twenty-third. Thank you for tuning in and joining me this evening. Uh, where to begin? First of all, I just spent a lovely few days and nights with my kiddos. As I believe I told you all last week, my son Brandon was coming to visit for his birthday Saturday, March 21st. And so uh my kids came on Wednesday, Wednesday even, Thursday Eve. Uh so I'm still recovering from the visit. Um but also, how many out there are suffering from allergies worse than ever this year? I'm taking a poll. Uh, especially if you are in the Bay Area. So I don't know if you know this, but pollen from annual grasses is increasing in the spring. Beginning in June, there is a surge in the summer weed pollen. And then with the seasonal rains, that can also cause trees and grasses to pollinate at the same time, making what's good for our water supply a pain in the ear, nose, and throat for allergy suffers. Let me just tell you, uh, I used to only be allergic to minor things like juniper or you know, the rare things. But this year, even as I speak, these allergies are kicking my butt. Um, apparently they are severe right now due to the climate change that is causing warmer temperatures, which makes plants bloom earlier and produce more pollen for longer periods. Also, increased wind speeds, spread higher volumes of pollen while pollution and increased atmospheric carbon dioxide can exacerbate allergy symptoms. So I myself needed to look it up because I'm like, I've never suffered so bad. So I looked it up, and it says that allergies are worse right now because of the climate change, like I just explained, and early spring. Warmer winters mean earlier and longer pollen seasons for trees, grasses, and weeds. What that means is higher pollen counts. Plants are producing more pollen due to increased CO2. Oh, excuse me, and higher temperatures cause more significant pollen release. And then with the windier weather, the wind carries the pollen over greater distances, leading to higher exposure. And then regional differences depending on the region, March to May is peak tree pollen season, while late spring summer brings grass pollen, as noted in Alarmi's blog and a YouTube video. And then adults can develop new allergies to local plants over time. Notes Henry Ford Health. So what can we do about it? Well, there's an app where you can monitor pollen counts. Use an app or check local reports to know when pollen is highest, often in the early morning. And then for those of you that don't know, keep your windows closed, use air conditioning with clean filters, wash your clothes and take a shower immediately after spending time outdoors. And then obviously use medications such as, you know, over-the-counter antihistamines, nasal sprays before the symptoms occur. I remember my friend Nurse Bonnie saying Xurtec Claritin Allegra in that order. And what are the symptoms you're wondering? How do I know? Because last week I was like, is this allergies? Is this a cold? I've never suffered like this. Well, allergies typically feature itchy eyes, nose, or throat that lasts for weeks and occur annually without a fever. Whereas colds usually arrive with a sore throat, body aches, low grade fever, thick mucus lasting seven to ten days. Allergy symptoms often arise suddenly upon exposure to triggers like pollen and produce clear, thin mucus, itchy, watery eyes, um, even itchy ears or throat. Oh sorry, and don't be surprised if it makes you tired. So to get rid of the allergies fast, over-the-counter antihistamines, cetrazine, lauridine, or nasal sprays for quick relief.

SPEAKER_01 6:28

And like I said earlier, shower or change your clothes after being outside to remove the pollen.

SPEAKER_00 6:39

And here it says right here Claritin, Allegra, Zyzol, and Xyrtec offer fast daily relief, often within one hour.

SPEAKER_01 6:51

Eye drops for itchy eyes.

Bachelor Franchise News And Reaction

SPEAKER_00 6:56

Also, you can inhale steam from a hot shower to break up congestion. And of course, wash bedding regularly in hot water to eliminate desmites. And make sure you drink plenty of water. Andor you can use saline irrigation, also known as a netty pot or saline spray. Ladies and gents, I am so tired this evening from suffering allergies that I'm gonna keep it short and sweet. By the way, quick question. Anybody watch The Bachelorette or The Bachelor? And if you do, have you heard the news? The reason I bring it up, I look forward to The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Bachelor in Paradise, all of that every year.

SPEAKER_01 7:58

Well, it won't be premiering anytime soon.

SPEAKER_00 8:08

Because uh well, Taylor Frankie Paul, her video is tied to domestic violence investigation related to ABC cancellation of season 22 of The Bachelorette. I have to tell you, I'm so bummed because I look forward to that.

SPEAKER_01 8:30

Um and I guess it was supposed to start last night. That was supposed to be the premiere.

SPEAKER_00 8:39

Um and if you don't know who I'm talking about, she uh used to be in Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. And she was gonna be the first Bachelorette to come from a different reality TV show franchise.

SPEAKER_01 8:57

Anyway, so no bachelorette for us anytime soon for all of you bachelor bachelorette lovers.

SPEAKER_00 9:10

I want to give a shout out to all my loyal subscribers. Lisa Roberts Corbello, thank you. Jeff Potter, Namaste, Mike Coffin, thank you.

SPEAKER_01 9:25

Roger Havens.

Honey Remedy And Holistic Preferences

SPEAKER_00 9:28

How's your garden doing with this wave of various different weather patterns? Also, shout out to Angie Germer and Creative Cara at lovemyartist.etsy.com or Linktree Love My Artist. Thank you all for tuning in. Thank you for listening. If you have any tips or tricks that you would like to share in regards to allergies, I'd love to hear them. Speaking of, uh Under the Gypsy Moon Rhonda Joy Taylor told me to have a dose of organic honey on the daily, and that could help battle allergies. So I'll be trying that. Starting maybe tonight with my evening cup of tea, or tomorrow morning with all my vitamins. If any of you that like and comment andor share, I would love to hear your allergy tips and tricks. And I'm always open to homeopathic remedies, as you know.

SPEAKER_01 10:57

I much prefer those to uh Western medicine.

Share Tips And Support The Show

SPEAKER_00 11:05

Not that I don't take stuff when I have to, but I feel like lately with being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, that the doctors could not offer any relief with their remedies. So I'm leaning more towards, you know, Eastern medicine, homeopathic remedies, etc. So if any of you out there have any tips, tricks, suggestions, I would love to hear them. And please, if you are a loyal listener, it means so much if you remember to like the podcast, comment on the podcast, and share. That's how we keep the algorithm going, and I gain more listeners. Thanks for tuning in. Thank you for listening until Wisdom Wellness Wednesday. Ciao for now.