It is peak season for fall foliage in the High Country! It’s the perfect time to go on a walk through the neighborhood or take a hike in the mountains to enjoy our famous maples and their vibrant colors. Of course, those perfect scarlet and golden leaves will eventually turn brown and fall to the ground, at which point it’s time for leaf cleanup.
Common Sinus Symptoms After Raking
If going outside and raking your leaves triggers sinus symptoms, you’re not alone. Many people experience the following after cleaning up the yard:
- Runny nose
- Congestion or stuffy nose
- Sneezing
- Facial pressure or headache
- Sinus infection
What Causes Sinus Symptoms
The main problem is mold. When leaves fall to the ground, they catch and trap moisture, creating a soggy, wet mess. They also provide a warm, insulating layer over the ground. This creates the ideal conditions for mold growth. Mold spores are present in the soil virtually everywhere, and under the leaf cover, they begin to flourish. As you rake, pick up and bag the leaves, you send those spores flying into the air, where you may breathe them in, or they may land on your clothes and skin.
Mold spores can inflame the nasal lining, causing swelling, increased mucus production and blocked drainage. That inflammation is what leads to that congested, blocked feeling, and blocked drainage can lead to a sinus infection. These symptoms may occur more quickly and/or severely if you have an existing mold allergy, which affects about 10% of the general population.
How to Manage Sinus Symptoms During Leaf Cleanup
Avoidance is always your first line of defense when it comes to symptoms from mold exposure. Of course, the leaves still need to be raked, so take precautions to limit your contact while cleaning up by wearing a mask or scarf over your nose and mouth, and long sleeves and gloves to cover your skin. Change clothes and shower immediately when you’re done. Try to rake the leaves frequently and dispose of them right away rather than leaving them to rot in a big pile, so mold has less time to grow beneath the leaf cover.
To manage symptoms after they start, you can use over-the-counter medications such as decongestants and neti pots to relieve sinus symptoms. Decongestants help reduce inflammation in the upper sinuses, and a neti pot flushes irritants out of your nose and hydrates the irritated lining. If you know or suspect that you have a mold allergy, take a daily antihistamine to reduce your body’s reaction to the allergen.
If you have a history of chronic sinusitis or nasal polyps, you might consider visiting with an ENT specialist to address these issues, as you may react more strongly to mold spores or other damp environments that can cause sinus flare-ups. Getting medical help with conditions like these may reduce your reaction to leaf cleanup. Call us at Blue Ridge ENT today to learn more.