Life is hard enough; it would be great to live without allergies. Don’t worry, though; help is out there for people who are fed up with dealing with allergies. Read on for great advice on controlling your allergies so that you can enjoy life again.
During warm weather months, you may wish to open your windows to keep the house at the right temperature. Opening your windows can lead to allergic reactions. Use a HEPA filter with your air conditioner to reduce indoor allergens. This might not feel quite as fresh but it will help you breathe easier.
Test your reaction to first time over-the-counter allergy medications in your own home. Many antihistamines have ingredients that cause drowsiness or slowed reflexes. You might think that the drug is fairly innocuous, especially if you don’t see any warning label, but you never really know how you’re going to react to a new drug.
Reactions to certain allergens can happen at different times in life. For instance, proteins become exposed to babies through certain foods. This explains why food allergies are so common in little ones. As they age, they may become tolerant of some allergens, and can become sensitive to new ones as they are introduced to them. If your kid develops allergy symptoms to spores or pollen, don’t rule out serious allergic reactions just because they’re not food.
Wherever possible, try not to use carpets or large area rugs in your house. It is hard to clean a carpet properly and the particles they hold, such as dust, pollen and dander, could trigger your allergy symptoms. Your best bet is to stay with the types of flooring that can be swept and mopped easily.
Think about removing carpet from your home. Carpet can be the best place for dead dust mites, pollen and dust to hide. If you have carpet all over your house try to consider switching to either wood or tile floors, if you are able to pay for it. There will be a substantial difference in how much allergens you breathe in. If you cannot do this, then vacuum on a daily basis.
Make sure your bathroom has a lot of ventilation to prevent mildew and mold. Mold loves to grow in moist bathrooms, and this is especially true if your bathroom is dark. Make sure all washcloths and wet towels are hung up to dry, and always keep the fan on during and after you shower. Turn on bathroom fans, or open windows for air circulation.
Ensure the air quality in your home is good; keep the windows closed. When opening windows, you can let in pollen which makes allergic symptoms worse. Also, to eliminate allergens, be sure your air conditioning and vents are clean.
Consider removing out your carpet. Carpet is infamous for dead dust mites, pollen and dust. If you are able to afford it, you might consider changing out wall to wall carpet for tile, laminate or wood flooring. This will reduce the amount of allergens in your home. If you cannot change your floor, be sure to vacuum everyday.
Take stress into account when you’re dealing with your allergies. Most people aren’t aware that stress affects allergies. If you have asthma, this rule becomes even more important. An asthma attack is more likely to occur when their stress level increases. Although this cannot cure allergies or asthma, it can reduce the amounts of attacks and how long they last.
In some areas, pretty olive trees are turning into the landscaping decoration of choice. Unfortunately, the trees also produce a lot of pollen. If you learn to identify these trees when you see them that will aid you in devising ways to protect yourself from any allergens. Using a water hose to spray down a tree can help to reduce pollen.
Make sure you consult with a medical professional before you take any allergy medications. They can advise you of any potential risks or side effects, as well as tell how you can get the most effective use out of it. They can also recommend alternate medications if you are unhappy with the performance of your current choice.
Watch the clock to determine allergy patterns. Between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m., pollen levels are at their highest; it is best to stay indoors during this period. If you have no choice but to go out during those hours, don’t undertake strenuous activity and don’t stay out for too long.
Make sure you take out your trash. Having refuse indoors may attract rodents and insects. Allergies are often exacerbated by mouse excrement. The last thing you need are rats crawling around leaving droppings everywhere, make sure you get rid of them with traps. You may want to try poison if that does not work.
If all previous efforts have failed and your allergies are still bothersome, it may make sense to consult with a physician. A professional can determine which prescription-only medication is best-suited to your specific problems, which will set you on the path to success. Other options that are available to you can be discussed as well.
When pollen is rampant in the air outside, don’t open the windows. Pollen is looking for a place to land. It blows around with the wind and can even fit through those ridiculously tiny holes in your window screen. The hours between 10 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon are usually the riskiest. Air your home out before or after these hours.
One way to avoid allergies is keeping your car clean and closed at all times. Shut AC vents to help keep down the number of allergens that enter your car. If you vacuum constantly, you can prevent buildup on seats and upholstery. This could cause a reduction in allergies.
For those who have schoolchildren with allergies, make sure you know what to do in case of severe reactions. Have your pediatrician compose a note that explains your child’s allergies. Supply your child’s school with a few doses of allergy medication so that they are prepared for emergencies. One of the things you should do is tell your child’s school what your child is allergic to and also keep it written down in their backpack.
Depending on the severity and the frequency of the symptoms you experience from an allergen, you may find that it’s a lot easier to simply treat the symptoms rather than the allergen. That means, for example, that those who have dry eyes should just carry eye drops with them. Likewise, folks with scratchy throats should always carry cough drops.
If you like the way your laundry smells after taking it off the backyard line, try using a freshly scented fabric softener or detergent to get the same effect. Although hanging you clothes outdoors may sound wonderful, it is a bad idea. It could also increase the risk of coming into contact with pollen, or spores. This is a good for those that don’t have a sensitivity towards fragrance and dye.
Make sure you are taking your allergy medication as directed by the label (for OTC medication) or your doctor (for prescription medication). Many medications require you to take them for several days at a constant dosage in order to see results. Don’t expect instant results with certain kinds of medications, as they do tend to take some time before they kick in. Discuss the usage of your medication with a medical professional.
When planning a vacation, consider your destination carefully. However, if you or a loved one has allergies, that can be a risk. Therefore, learn the area’s weather conditions and pollen counts before planning your vacation.
When pollen counts are high, keep your windows closed. Although allowing fresh air into your home is desirable, try not to do so when the pollen count is elevated during the day. From around 10 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon, pollen is at its peak. If you want to air out your house, wait until this block of time has passed.
If you have eye allergies then stop rubbing your eyes. Instilling an antihistamine in eye drop form can offer relief from these symptoms. If you rub at your eyes, you will irritate the follicles of your eyelashes. Then you will have a strong allergic reaction in your eyes.
If it has been a long time since you’ve had a holiday, you may feel like rushing to the first available place! This can be risky if you or your family has allergies. Do a little research before deciding on a destination, and learn what the weather, pollen count and other potential triggers may be in that area.
A humidifier might be a good thing to have in your home. This is a great investment that could stop allergens from going around your house. A humidifier introduces water droplets into the air. These droplets collect allergens and keep them from traveling any further. Therefore, you won’t inhale dust and other allergens that are lingering in the air.
If you are a suffer of allergies you have likely experienced the effects of having a post-nasal drip. Symptoms often include having a sore throat, which can be treated by gargling salt water. With your head angled back, swish a concoction of warm water and table salt around your mouth. This will provide relief for your sore and irritated throat every single time!
Remind doctors and nurses if you have an allergy to latex, they can overlook this at times. If latex from disposable gloves or medical implements comes into contact with your skin, you may immediately experience an allergic reaction.
Those dealing with allergies must vacuum regularly. That way, fewer allergens float around inside your house. Check out your vacuum too. Old vacuums often put the allergens back in the air. Newer vacuums have HEPA filters that will trap over 99 percent of all small particles and allergens and keep them out of the air.
Learn the differences between allergies and a cold. Allergies usually feel quite like a mild cold that can improve or worsen for no reason, and they might last for a long period of time. You may be allergic if you have the symptoms of a cold for awhile. If you do not know, visit your doctor and inform him or her of your symptoms.
Now that you’ve come to the end of this article, you are aware of some of the methods that you can use to treat your allergic symptoms. As busy as you are, and as much as you have to deal with, can you afford to be dragged down by allergies? Take control over your symptoms and take your life back!
If one person in your family has food allergies, consider having the entire family not eat that food in order to stop cross-contamination. Ridding yourself of foods that are known to cause allergies will prevent you from eating them in the future.