Why do I get sick after mowing the lawn?
There are many reasons why you might feel sick after mowing your lawn. Mowing a lawn can be stressful for the body and can require a moderate to high level of physical activity. There are three main reasons you may feel sick after mowing the lawn: heat, humidity, and allergies. Below are some preventive measures you can take and some symptoms to watch out for.
Heat can dramatically affect the human body and make us feel incredibly sick. When mowing your lawn in hot weather, the heat alone might make you feel sick after mowing. If your symptoms get worse, make sure to seek medical attention.
If you know you are affected by heat, take one or more of the following precautions before mowing your lawn to reduce symptoms.
- Wear loose and very breathable clothing. Sometimes it can be helpful to wear clothing covering your skin to protect it from the sun.
- Take frequent breaks in a cool area.
- Drink lots of water in small sips regularly throughout the day. Instead of water, you can substitute an electrolyte drink.
- Mow your lawn in the late evening or early morning to avoid the hottest times of the day.
- Dizziness, light-headedness
- Blurred vision
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Cramping
- Dark urine
Some more severe symptoms include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Shallow, fast breathing
- Swollen ankles, feet, or hands
- Weak yet fast heartbeat
Humidity can be just as dangerous as heat. Humidity restricts the body’s ability to release heat, making our bodies heat up even quicker than normal. If you know you are affected by humidity, take one or more of the following precautions before mowing your lawn to reduce symptoms.
- Take things slowly or don’t do them at all. If the weather calls for high heat and humidity, try not to do anything physical like mow your lawn. If you have to, take it slow and listen to your body.
- Wear lightweight, lightly colored clothing that protects your skin from the sun and allows your sweat to evaporate.
- Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and sugary drinks like juice and soda. Drink water continuously throughout the day.
- Take breaks in cool areas.
- Dehydration
- Fatigue
- Cramps
- Headache
- Confusion
Some more severe symptoms include:
- Heat exhaustion
- Fainting
- Heatstroke
- Vomiting
Allergens
People with allergies to grass or pollen can feel incredibly sick after mowing a lawn. If you know you have allergies, take one or more of the following precautions before mowing your lawn to reduce symptoms.
- If you already take allergy medications, take them before mowing.
- Don’t mow your lawn in the morning. Wait until the evening when pollen counts are much lower.
- Wear a mask when mowing to filter airflow and reduce allergen intake.
- Shower immediately after mowing.
- Keep your lawn short. If your lawn is kept short, it will have less pollen inside it, which means less is inhaled by you.
- Make sure your mower has a built-in bag so that trimmings aren’t being released back into the air.
- Some grasses are “no-pollen” grasses. If your allergies don’t improve with any of the above measures, you may need to plant a no-pollen grass instead.
Here are the most typical symptoms of grass and pollen allergies that you may feel after mowing your lawn.
- Redness and swelling around the eyes
- Watery eyes
- Sneezing
- Runny or a stuffy nose
- Rashes
- Itchy nose, eyes, ears, and mouth
Some more severe symptoms include:
- Headache: Inhaling allergens and the inflammation or swelling of the face can cause headaches.
- Sore throat: The allergens can irritate your throat as you inhale them. But, if you also have congestion, breathing through your mouth can also dry out your throat and make it sore.
- Difficulty sleeping: Due to congestion, it can be hard to fall asleep and stay asleep for those with allergies. Congestion can also reduce your oxygen intake, leaving you feeling even more sluggish and foggy.
Give us a call and stay cool. We are the most trusted landscaping company in Punta Gorda. We can also help you with landscaping, trees, sod and more. We look forward to working with you helping you to not feel sick after mowing you lawn.
