Are your allergies completely ruining your life? Do you suffer from sleepless nights and difficult days? If your answer is yes, then you are one among many. There are multi-millions of other allergy sufferers, world-wide, who suffer the same as you do. Some people, however, have found effective solutions to the problems that allergies pose. Here are several tips that work for many people.
Just to be safe, you want to test any new over the counter antihistamines at home. Often antihistamines will have ingredients that induce drowsiness. Even if the packaging does not contain a warning, when you take the first couple of doses, do it during a time that you are able to stay home and see how it makes you feel.
If possible, try not to furnish your home with any type of rugs or carpeting. Eliminating 100% of allergens from carpets and rugs is next to impossible, which means mites, pollen and other particulates will be waiting for you with every step you take. Instead, opt for flooring that is easy to keep clean with sweeping and mopping.
Before you sleep at night, get rid of the allergens by showering thoroughly. Pollen gathers on the skin and in your hair. This can cause allergy symptoms while you sleep. Just hop in for a quick wash, then sleep soundly.
If one allergy product does produce the desired effect, it’s not yet time to throw in the towel. When it comes to allergies, there’s more than one way to skin a cat. There are a wide range of medications and holistic treatments you can try. You can find things like saline sprays over-the-counter, nasal steroids, leukotriene blockers or allergy eye drops that can help you find allergy relief.
Remove carpets if you suffer from allergies. Carpet is infamous for dead dust mites, pollen and dust. If your carpeting is wall-to-wall, replace it with wood, tile or laminate floors if you can afford it. That way, you can greatly limit the number of allergens in the air. If you cannot change your floor, be sure to vacuum everyday.
Help keep allergens at bay by not opening windows. Open windows are an invitation for pollen and other airborne allergens to invade your home and cause allergies to flare up. You will also want to check and clean the filters in your vents and air conditioner to prevent allergens too.
Natural treatments do exist for those with allergies. Using natural remedies can be a great way to fight the symptoms of common allergies. They work with your body naturally to reduce runny noses, itchy eyes, swelling and sneezing.
If self-care has failed to address your allergy problem, it is time to consult a medical professional. A doctor can prescribe a stronger medication to bring relief from your symptoms. Your doctor is also a great resource for other information on allergy control steps you can take.
By keeping your windows closed, you are preventing the air inside the your house free of allergens. Open windows are an invitation for pollen and other airborne allergens to invade your home and cause allergies to flare up. You will also want to check and clean the filters in your vents and air conditioner to prevent allergens too.
The location and time of the day you exercise can be a trigger for allergy symptoms. As you exercise, you begin to breathe harder. Try exercising inside during the times of the day when there is a low pollen count to avoid taking in too many allergens inside your body.
An important way to remove another cause of allergy issues is keeping a clean car. Make sure it stays closed also. Using the air-conditioner, and keeping all vents closed will keep pollen and other allergens out. Regular use of a vacuum will keep your vehicle’s seats clean and dust free. This can lessen allergy outbursts.
When you take a trip, make sure that you bring along your allergy medication. The pollen and plants of a strange and different place may easily cause you to experience allergy symptoms. If you’ve ever suffered from a severe reaction due to allergies, it may be wise to carry around an Epi-pen, as well. This dose of epinephrine may stop a severe allergic reaction.
Clean your bathroom! Bathrooms grow mold more than anywhere else, so clean your bathroom once a week. Use bleach diluted with water to thoroughly clean bathroom walls. This mixture will also prevent the growth of mold.
Styling Products
Don’t forget your medication when you go on vacation. You never know the kinds of new allergens that can present themselves or exacerbate your current symptoms. When dealing with severe allergies, you will likely need to carry Epi-pens with you. This can deliver a dose of epinephrine that can save your life during a severe allergy attack.
If possible, avoid using styling products on your hair during allergy season. When you are outside all the time there are a lot of particles that you can pick up and bring home. However, these styling products are notorious pollen magnets and can turn your tresses into an allergen free-for-all.
Be sure to use any allergy medication correctly and according to directions. Most of these medications need to be taken for many days for them to be effective. Don’t expect instant results with certain kinds of medications, as they do tend to take some time before they kick in. Discuss the right dosage with your doctor.
Keep rugs and carpets to a minimum when you are decorating your residence. Dust and pollen tend to settle on carpets and rugs. Washable rugs are a useful compromise if your decor demands a little softness on the floor. Just be sure to wash them frequently to minimize allergen build-up.
It is best to have few or no rugs and carpets in your home. Rugs and carpeting are known hiding grounds for dust, pollen and other particulates. If you prefer to decorate with rugs, be certain that they can be washed, and do so regularly to rid them of allergens.
For school-aged children that suffer from allergies, you may need to send medication, such as an Epi-pen, to their school. Consult the pediatrician for a note that explains any allergies. Provide your child’s school nurse with these instructions and one or two emergency doses of medication. It can also help to provide the school with a possible allergen list; your child might also keep one with him in his backpack too.
When you choose pillows, be sure to choose a synthetic material because many natural materials (especially feathers) can cause allergies. Dust mites enter these pillows last after the other materials. You still have to keep them clean, but they are safer to use when you sleep.
If you love the scent of sun-dried, clean laundry, consider a lightly fragranced laundry detergent or fabric softener. You may desire the heavenly smell of laundry that has been dried in the sun. Drying clothes on a clothes line can increase pollen and mold spores on clothing. This is a good for those that don’t have a sensitivity towards fragrance and dye.
Do not be startled if your allergy test reveals several positive indications to tests of various allergens. Lots of people come in contact with allergens in various ways every day, but they don’t necessarily develop allergic reactions to them. Often, allergies can go on for years without being detected.
When you need a vacation, you usually want to just choose a place and go. However, if you suffer from allergies or you will be traveling with someone who suffers from allergies, then this might not be the best idea. Before picking a place to go, research it and find out about the weather and how high pollen is.
Try dusting weekly to reduce allergy symptoms. Some people don’t dust until they can detect dust with the naked eye, but doing it weekly keeps the allergen concentration in your home at a safe level.
You should not be startled if your allergy test shows that you are allergic to a vast multitude of items. Although many people come in contact with allergens, not all of them have a reaction because of it. With the exception of very serious cases, there are allergies that can remain undiagnosed for long periods of time because no symptoms ever emerge.
Look into getting a humidifier to use in your home. For a minimum investment, a humidifier will prevent allergens from circulating in the air. Allergens are attracted to the water and are stopped from circulating. This means you won’t inhale the allergens that are normally floating around in the air.
Know how to identify differences between allergies and a cold. An allergy can be similar to a mild cold; however, it fluctuates in severity without cause for extended periods. If you think you have a cold all of the time, you probably just have allergies. To be certain, consult with a physician about your symptoms.
Closing the windows for the day may shut out fresh air, but it will also keep pollen out, which tends to be more rampant during the daylight hours. Using your air conditioning for cool, dry air will help your allergies more than having the windows open during the warm pollen season.
If you really want to limit the allergens in your home, it’s a great idea to get rid of your carpeting. Common allergens like dust and dander often collect in carpets. Compared with carpeting, hardwood floors are far easier to maintain and will bring you one step closer to an allergen-free household.
Because of the amount of pollution in some of the world’s major cities, residents who were otherwise healthy can start to suffer from allergies due to the smog. If you’re a city dweller and notice you’re constantly stuffed up, then try staying away from the area for a week. If you notice improvement that goes away when you return, it’s possible that smog is causing your allergies.
Wash your hair daily if you suffer from seasonal allergies. Hair tends to catch all the dust, pollen and dander. And taking showers and practicing good hygiene in general keeps your body healthy and allergy free. Wash your hair every day when allergy season is at its peak to try and lessen the effects.
Keep diphenhydramine pills (an over-the-counter antihistamine) on your person if you have severe allergic reactions. While these products are not ideal for every degree of reaction, diphenhydramine (Benadryl) may offer near-immediate relief from allergic symptoms.
After reading this article, you now have more ideas about how to effectively deal with your allergies. Read the tips again, if you need to, and then apply them in life. You can find relief for allergy symptoms and live a normal life.
Hire a professional to look for and seal any leaks in your house so that allergens cannot enter. Pollen and dust can enter your home from any unsealed cracks. A professional can seal cracks and help relieve your allergies.