sometimes it really is just allergies

[mindstalk]

Last week I was in crowded elevators in a medical building. Masked in N95 of course, but still, risky. And this week I thought I was having incipient cold symptoms: one nostril almost congested, a bit of throat tickle, general blah-ness and lethargy. My covid tests were negative, though I don't know what sensitivity to expect at such a minimal symptom stage.

Then I looked at pollen.com. Pollen levels are low (3-4 on their index), but non-zero, with grasses, a known nemesis, listed as second component. And it was really windy for a couple of nights (almost as if the weather were angry), perhaps driving air into the house. Hmm.

So I restarted my air purifiers before going to bed last night, and today, I feel great! Clear and energetic.

I don't know if it really was grass pollen. Could have been dust mite buildup, or some sort of mold. Due to falling temperatures the house has been more sealed than before (mostly meaning I'm not running a window fan all the time anymore, and closing more windows.)

But one way or another, clearer air was followed by better health!

Could also explain why I felt better yesterday afternoon, on a walk, than yesterday morning. Either pollen (and wearing a mask helped) or something in the house air (and being outside helped.)

[The post title is a reference to reports of many people insisting that their hacking cough is just some sort of new allergy, even in snowy December, and couldn't possibly be covid-19~]