Many men and women enjoy spending long periods of times outdoors, but more than half are allergy sufferers. If you have allergies, you are aware of how bad the symptoms can be. The following article will offer helpful advice on how to get the most out of life, despite suffering with allergies.
Before driving under the new influence of an unknown over-the-counter medication, make sure it is safe by taking it at home first. These medications are known for having ingredients that can slow down your reaction time or even make you fall asleep. Even when there is no severe warning listed on the label, take the initial dose whey you are in the comfort of your own home and do not need to operate a vehicle or anything else potentially hazardous if you become drowsy.
If you have never tried a certain over-the-counter antihistamine yet, do so when you are home. Test in small doses to ensure that the medicine doesn’t impair you in any negative way. Make sure you stay inside when you first take your medications so you know how they affect you.
Allergen that can’t be avoided is dust mites. As you might expect from their name, you can find them burrowed deep in your pillows or mattress as they feast on skin cells that have been shed. Not such a pretty picture! To avoid the presence of dust mites, beddings and pillows should be placed in customized zippered cases. Be sure to wash your bedding weekly in hot water to kill off dust mites.
Make sure you ventilate your bathroom thoroughly so mold doesn’t build. This sort of allergen likes an environment that is warm and damp. After showering, be sure to turn your fan on, and keep any wet towels hung out on bars to dry completely. If this isn’t a option, open up a window in order to let fresh air circulate around.
If you have allergies, try to avoid items containing color or dyes, as they are common allergy triggers. Sometimes, even toilet tissue contains dye from patterns and color. Go for plain white paper products in your home and see if it makes a difference in your allergic suffering.
If you plan to exercise outdoors during times of high pollen, do so in the late evening or early morning. It has been shown through numerous studies that pollen levels rise during mid day, but are lowest during the morning and early evening.
Look at what time you are experiencing your allergies. Pollen is most terrible between 5 and 10 a.m., and if possible, do not leave your home during these times. If you have to go out, do not do too much and make it fast.
Always store garbage outside of your home. Garbage stored indoors will attract vermin and other pests. In the presence of mice dropping, your allergy symptoms may become more pronounced. It may be necessary to set traps if you are unable to eliminate vermin from your home by this method. If you do not find success, think about poison.
If you are having frequent allergy problems, then your pet could be the problem. A trip to your general practitioner for an allergy panel will quickly put your questions to rest. You will not necessarily need to find a new home for your pet, though you might need to alter your arrangements somewhat.
When you need a vacation, you usually want to just choose a place and go. This can be risky if you or one of your brood is an allergy sufferer. Instead, you should carry out detailed research into the weather conditions, any local allergens and pollen counts before you select a destination.
If you’ve exhausted your options and your allergy symptoms aren’t letting up, it’s best to seek out advice from a physician. Doctor-recommended medication can be a powerful weapon in the fight against allergies and their symptoms. Your doctor can also point out other remedies that you may not have thought of.
Do not panic if the results of your allergy tests show several positive reactions to numerous allergens. Many folks have contact with allergens every day, but not all of them experience allergic reactions. With the exception of extreme cases, allergies may not be detected for years if obvious symptoms do not appear.
Don’t take any medication for allergies without discussing it with your physician first, and this includes the over-the-counter brands. You want to make sure you are doing the right thing and that you don’t harm your body.
If your allergies are accompanied by post-nasal drip, you may experience a sore throat. Instead of using medication, find relief by gargling with salt water. Combine warm water with table salt, tilt your head back and swish the mixture around in your mouth. You should experience relief every time!
Clean your bathroom. Warm, humid bathrooms can become hotbeds of mold unless they are cleaned weekly. A solution of bleach and water may be used to clean walls and showers, making it harder for mold to thrive. This will keep the mold from growing there as well and also keep your allergies under control.
Vitamin C
Before you take a trip out of town, remember to bring your allergy medications with you. It’s not always possible to know if your allergies will be exacerbated by the local plants, pollen levels or allergens that await you at your destination. If you have suffered from a serious allergic reaction in the past, you should also bring an Epi-pen with you. An Epi-pen contains a dose of epinephrine that can rapidly treat a life-threatening allergic reaction.
Taking vitamin C supplements may relieve allergy symptoms. Vitamin C boosts your immune system, and may be a natural anti-histamine. To reduce allergy symptoms, most physicians recommend that people such consume 1000 mg of vitamin C every day. Another great source to fight against allergies is Omega-3 fatty acids.
If you take allergy medicine, make sure you are using it as directed. A lot of the medication require you to use it for a while before it becomes effective. You will not be able to wait until you start sneezing to pop an allergy pill. Make sure to speak with your physician about the proper dosage for you.
Your allergies could be caused by mold found in your home. By regularly cleaning the seals of your freezer and refrigerator doors, you can greatly reduce the amount of mold in your kitchen and living areas. This area accumulates water which can grow mold. An unclean refrigerator will release mold spores into the air.
Synthetic pillows are far safer when it comes to allergens. Dust mites do not prefer these types of pillows, as their preference is the natural material pillows. You still have to wash them so that you can get rid of allergens and dust, but they can help you sleep better.
Know whether you have a cold or an allergy. Allergy symptoms are lighter and last longer. They can also fluctuate in severity without reason. If you seem to constantly be getting colds, it may be that you actually have an allergy. To be certain, consult with a physician about your symptoms.
Don’t open your windows when pollen is prevalent in the air. Everyone appreciates a home filled with fresh air, but it is best to leave windows closed when pollen levels are highest. Peak times for pollen are between the hours of 10am and 3pm. In the late afternoon, you can allow your house to air with the windows open.
If your pet triggers your allergies, be sure they are bathed on a regular basis. Pet dander is the usual culprit, and by bathing your pet, you can better control the dander. Avoid bathing your pet yourself if possible, because the release of dander during a bath might trigger your symptoms.
If you’ve been outside for an hour or more, you’ve likely collected some airborne allergens. Try to take a shower as soon as you can. If you cannot take one right away then make sure to take one before heading to bed. The shower will rinse away pollen, mold and other allergens. Anytime you go outside, these irritants will settle on your hair, skin and clothing.
In order to avoid cross contaminating allergy causing foods with regular foods, consider an allergy-free diet for the entire family. Avoid cross contamination by eliminating all foods that you are sensitive to from your kitchen.
Allergies can be responsible for post-nasal drip which in turn can cause sore throats, and a good way to battle this symptom is to gargle with salt water. Mix warm water with table salt. Gargle it without swallowing. This will provide relief for your sore and irritated throat every single time!
If possible, eat more foods containing vitamin C. If that isn’t possible, a supplement can help as well. Vitamin C can be found in fruits, such as oranges and grapefruit, or you can find inexpensive supplements at any health food store. Your immune system will get a boost and be better able to keep allergies at bay.
Resist the temptation to rub your eyes with your fingers if your allergies tend to make them dry or itchy. As an alternative, you can use antihistamine eye drops. Constantly rubbing the eyes can cause follicle irritation and lead to styes.
In order to ameliorate indoor allergy symptoms, be certain to vacuum frequently. Pick up a vacuum which contains a HEPA filter. HEPA filters can trap pollen, mold, dust mites, other kinds of airborne particles that are known to cause an allergic reaction when you attempt to vacuum them.
Make sure you purchase a humidifier to use in your house. Using a humidifier may help to reduce the amount of allergens that are trapped in your house. The water droplets that come out of it will attract the allergens and prevent them from spreading. This lowers the amount of allergens that you would normally inhale throughout the day.
As you are now aware, although we spend so much time outdoors, most of us are prone to allergy attacks. Hopefully the tips above have provided you with some invaluable advice that will help you to not only survive allergy season, but to actually enjoy it. Good luck!
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.