Life is very complicated on its own. You certainly do not need to further complicate it with allergies. If you’re one of the chosen folks who suffer from harsh allergy symptoms, the article below can help. Read on for great advice on controlling your allergies so that you can enjoy life again.
Wherever possible, use something other than carpeting and rugs as floor coverings in your home. Keeping carpet spotless and clean is practically a lost cause; the fibers can house vast quantities of mites, pet dander, dust and other common allergens. Make use of flooring that can be mopped or swept clean instead.
Test out allergy medicine at home before going anywhere. Test in small doses to ensure that the medicine doesn’t impair you in any negative way. Even if the product packaging does not contain any warnings, you should take the first several doses when you aren’t having to drive or do anything dangerous.
Think about taking the carpet out of your house. Carpet can be the best place for dead dust mites, pollen and dust to hide. If your home features rooms full of carpet, think about installing hardwood flooring surfaces where possible. This will make an amazing difference in the amount of allergy-causing substances you breathe. If new flooring is not currently an option, at least try to vacuum your carpets once daily.
Dust Mites
A great way to treat any type of bronchial allergies is to always make sure your body is getting enough fluids. When you become dehydrated, your mucous membranes get dry and irritated and by extension are more vulnerable to allergens. In addition, dehydration can cause the normal secretions of these membranes to become thick and difficult to expel.
It is virtually impossible to avoid 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. Disgusting! A good solution to address dust mites is to use allergy bedding covers to completely enclose your mattress and pillows. Then, wash your bedding weekly in hot water, because hot water can kill dust mites.
Keep windows closed to keep allergens out of your home. Opening the windows allows pollen to enter your house, causing your allergies to flare up. Another way to decrease allergens in the home is to regularly check and clean air conditioning vents and filters.
If you suffer from allergies, but you are wanting to have a pet anyways, you should try to have a pet with short fur. Long haired animals seem to trigger allergies more so than short haired animals. Also, try to minimize your pet’s effect on your allergies. Don’t allow them on your bed as you sleep.
Most allergy sufferers have been told at one time or another to use a humidifier in the bedroom to moisten airways during sleep. This could actually be counterproductive, as the water vapor humidifiers emit can land on the carpet, which increases the likelihood that mold or other allergens will proliferate. Because of this, you should consider trying a saline spray prior to going to bed in order to keep your nasal passages more moist.
Even though skin tests can tell you what you are allergic to, they don’t tell you how extreme your allergies are. You may learn from the test that pollen is an allergen that affects you. Although you may only suffer with very mild symptoms when near this allergen, you also may not suffer at all.
Take control of stress. Many are unaware of the fact that stress can cause allergic reactions to be worse than they might otherwise be. For people who have asthma, this is especially true. An increased level of stress increases the chance of an asthma attack. Although this will not cure the condition, it will reduce the duration of the attacks as well as the frequency.
Avoid buying products that contain artificial dyes, as many people are allergic to them. This may even include toiler paper than has designs in it. Try using white paper products for your house to see if this helps your allergies.
If you see evidence of mice or other pests, call an exterminator. The droppings of vermin, such as cockroaches and rodents, can seriously exacerbate the symptoms of allergies. Hiring an exterminator and safely and quickly eliminate these unwanted guests from you home, allowing you to relax and breathe easy.
If you have allergies and own pets, it may be difficult to determine whether or not they are the cause of your problems. Ask your doctor to give you an allergy test to determine if animals are one of your allergies. You don’t have to find another home for your pet, but you will have some changes to make.
The time and the place you exercise outdoors has a lot to do with allergies. The harder and longer you exercise, the more difficult it becomes to breathe. In order to exercise safely, do your workouts indoors and at times when the pollen levels are at their lowest. This will prevent you from breathing in excess pollen.
Try to avoid becoming too stressed. A lot of people don’t realize that stress can really affect the allergic responses their bodies feel. If you have asthma, this rule becomes even more important. The probability of an attack increases when the stress level rises. Stress affects your body in many ways, so try and figure out different ways you can rid yourself from as much stress from your life.
If you suffer from allergies, then try to limit what causes you the most trouble. Get rid of dust if it is bugging you and making your allergies flare. If pets are the problem, then you should consider giving them away or at least ensure they are always well-groomed. In addition, frequent dusting and vacuuming can be instrumental in reducing animal dander.
If your allergic reactions generally consist of the same mild symptoms every time, you may wish to focus on treating the symptoms as opposed to attempting to avoid a specific allergen altogether. So if you have dry eyes as an allergic reaction then carry eye drops on you. The same advice can be said for those who have an itchy throat.
If you have a latex allergy, you need to avoid all products that contain latex. Some things that you might want to avoid are condoms, latex bandages and latex gloves. You can find alternatives to a lot of these items, just ask your local pharmacist or doctor for help on where you can find them. Be sure to always look at labels for any warning about latex.
If you see any visitors that are unwanted, like mice or insects, think about having the exterminator drop by consistently. Household pests leave fecal matter, and the like, that make allergies worse. A visit from an exterminator can take care of these problems, which will keep you healthier and breathing easier.
For a touch of clean, sun-kissed fragrance on your clothes and linens, your best bet is to use lightly scented dryer sheets, fabric softener or laundry detergent. True, using a clothesline to dry your clothing may result in a natural, clean scent. But it may increase the amount of pollen and dust as well. For people who have no sensitivity to fragrances or dyes, this is excellent.
If you have allergies, try to eliminate the trigger that bothers you most. If dust is an issue, be sure to clean frequently and remove as much dust as possible. If pets cause you the most trouble, consider finding new homes for them, or at least be sure that they are bathed regularly. In addition, vacuuming and dusting is very important to keep the pet dander down, as well.
Do not panic if your allergy test shows many different positive reactions. Many folks have contact with allergens every day, but not all of them experience allergic reactions. A lot of times allergies might not rear their ugly heads for years.
If possible, avoid using styling products on your hair during allergy season. These products will create tar-pit-like trap, easily capturing allergens. But, such styling items tend to attract pollen, which will surely make your allergies worse.
A great reliever of allergy symptoms is Vitamin C. Vitamin C boosts your immunity and is also a natural antihistamine. To properly prevent allergies, doctors say everyone should have about 1000mg everyday. You should also focus on increasing your Omega-3 intake to aid prevention.
If you use medication to treat allergies, be sure you are using them the right way. Many of these types of medications require you to use them for several days before you feel the benefits. Most allergy medications don’t work instantly, so taking them only when you experience symptoms often won’t do any good. Make certain to consult a doctor about proper medication usage.
If you have itchy or dry eyes from your allergies, don’t rub them using your hands. Instead, use an antihistamine eye drop to treat the symptoms. If you keep rubbing your eyes, you may irritate the follicles near your eyelashes, which can lead to styes.
If you suffer from allergies, you should not have many rugs or carpets in your home. Dust and pollen like to accumulate on them. Rugs can be acceptable for decorating. The key is to ensure they can be washed and are regularly cared for.
Weekly dusting can have a positive effect on the symptoms of your allergies. Some people ignore this until they can actually see dust build up, but if you do it weekly, you will find that your allergy symptoms will be reduced because there are fewer allergens in the air in your home.
Be sure not to rub your eyes no matter how itchy they feel. Invest in antihistamine eye drops to control such symptoms. If you continuously rub your eyes, it could cause an allergic stye.
It’s important to understand how a cold differs from common allergies. Allergies tend to feel like a “light” cold that eases or worsens without reason. Allergies can also last a lot longer than a normal cold. If you seem to constantly be getting colds, it may be that you actually have an allergy. If you are unsure, visit your doctor and explain your symptoms.
With any luck, the piece you have read has given you some useful tips for dealing with the issues caused by your allergies. Given the fast-paced nature of everyday life, allergies can pose a serious nuisance. Control your symptoms and take control of your life again.
Research homeopathic solutions for your allergies. Many people take all sorts of medication for allergies, but you should try out homeopathic solution. These remedies usually don’t have the horrible side effects you find in prescription medications, and they work much better than over the counter medications. Natural remedies are easily found at health food stores, and even some drug stores carry them nowadays.