If you are experiencing constant coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes and having a runny nose during a certain time of the year, then you might have allergies. While the symptoms are a lot like those of the common cold, they can be managed fairly easily. The following article will give you advice for properly treating allergy symptoms.
In good weather, you might want to open all of your windows in order to reduce your energy bill. But, this could cause your allergies to act up. To help effectively reduce allergens present in your home, consider installing a HEPA filter in your air conditioning unit. It might not be as fresh as fresh air, but your breathing will improve.
If you can avoid it, don’t use carpeting or rugs in your home. Allergens like pollen, dust, dander, and mites tend to stick in carpet fibers, and people who are sensitive to them will find it is practically impossible to get rid of them entirely. Flooring that can be cleaned easily is more practical.
If you can, do not put large rugs or carpeting in your home. It is practically impossible to keep carpets totally clean, as mites, dust, pollen and dander cling to the fibers and irritate those with allergies. Get hardwood or laminate flooring.
The best pet for a person with allergies is one that has short fur or no fur at all. Long haired animals seem to trigger allergies more so than short haired animals. In order to ameliorate the effects of animals, never sleep in the same bed with your pets.
Allergen that can’t be avoided is dust mites. These vile organisms thrive on dead skin as they burrow into your mattress and pillows. Not such a pretty picture! To fight this, you can put your mattress and pillow in a cover that is designed for your bed. Wash all bedding at least once a week in hot water, which will kill any dust mites.
Skin tests are reliable for identifying allergens, but these results cannot predict how severe a reaction you may have to these substances. For instance, tests may show that you have difficulties with a kind of spore. You could suffer from a mild allergic reaction and not notice it.
Avoid buying products that contain artificial dyes, as many people are allergic to them. This may even include your toilet paper because there could be designs that are dyed onto them. Try using products that are plain white paper in your house and it might aid in reducing your allergy symptoms.
Look at what time you are experiencing your allergies. Pollen navigates the air in abundance between five and ten o’clock in the morning, so don’t go out then if you don’t have to. If you have to go out, do not do too much and make your trip quick.
Natural treatments do exist for those with allergies. Using natural remedies, you’ll be able to fight back against the reactions your body may have to certain allergens. They can naturally relieve itching, sneezing, and many other irritating symptoms.
Allergy Treatments
Make sure your windows stay closed in order to keep allergens out of the home. Pollen in the air may drift into your home through open windows, where it then aggravates your allergies. Another way to decrease allergens in the home is to regularly check and clean air conditioning vents and filters.
There are many allergy treatments, so don’t throw in the towel after only a couple of tries. There are plenty of allergy treatments besides oral medications. For example, you may consider over-the-counter nasal saline sprays, allergy eye drops or prescription alternatives, like nasal steroids and leukotriene blockers.
If all previous efforts have failed and your allergies are still bothersome, it may make sense to consult with a physician. A doctor will be able to help you to manage your allergies by suggesting treatments or medications that may be best for you. The physician may also suggest something you’ve not tried yet and have other valuable advice for you.
Keep an eye on your levels of stress. Most people aren’t aware that stress affects allergies. For people who have asthma, this is especially true. The probability of an attack increases when the stress level rises. This does not cure your condition but it will in fact lower how often you have problems with allergies.
A big trigger of allergic reactions is the time of day that you exercise, and where you exercise. As you exercise more, you tend to breathe harder. Completing your fitness routine indoors can decrease the amount of allergens you inhale; it also helps to workout during times in which pollen levels are lowest.
The location and time of the day you exercise can be a trigger for allergy symptoms. Exercise can be hard on your respiratory system. If you exercise indoors during hours when pollen counts are lower, you can limit your inhalation of allergy-causing substances.
Carefully choose your antiperspirants. In many cases, these products are made with substances that are harmful to the skin and can even enter the body through the pores. Take care to read labels so that you can stay away from ingredients that cause your skin trouble.
If you suffer from allergies, then try to limit what causes you the most trouble. If you are bothered most by dust, make certain to regularly clean your house and get rid of every bit of dust you can. Keeping your pets groomed and clean at all times may help your allergy to pet dander; another option is find a new home for them. Cleaning, dusting, and vacuuming can help to reduce the amount of pet dander that gets into the air, too.
During allergy season, refrain from using sprays, gels or creams in your hair. These products will create tar-pit-like trap, easily capturing allergens. Hair products can cause cause your hair to collect allergens.
Always keep allergy medicine with you. You never know what kinds of new plants, pollen or other allergy triggers you may encounter. If you’ve had severe allergic reactions, you might want to carry an Epi-pen, too. This is a quick shot of epinephrine which can waylay many allergy attacks.
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. Rugs can be acceptable for decorating. The key is to ensure they can be washed and are regularly cared for.
And any time you spend more than an hour outside, some airborne allergens will collect on your clothing, skin and hair. Take a shower at the first opportunity, or at the very least, do so prior to going to sleep. Showering will wash irritants such as pollen and mold off your skin. They could even be in your hair or on your skin.
Use pillows made of synthetic materials and not ones made of natural materials or feathers. Dust mites prefer pillows that feature natural material far more than those that incorporate man-made material. They still need to be washed, but they are more allergy friendly than other pillows.
Don’t let embarrassing allergy symptoms stop you from doing things you like; take control of them. When you learn how to reduce your symptoms as much as possible and make your body strong, you notice a different way to live. Remember the tricks listed in this guide and you will be able to live better despite having allergies.
If you suffer from allergies you should vacuum as often as you can. This reduces the amount of allergens that will be floating around your home. Be sure to give your vacuum a thorough inspection. An old or ill-working vacuum may release some allergens back in the environment. Newer vacuum cleaner models use HEPA filters to trap more than 99% of the allergens and irritating particles that can trigger allergies.