Seasonal allergies may be causing you to experience yearly bouts of coughing, itchiness, sneezing and other irritations. It can be easy to confuse such symptoms with a cold, but you can manage them. Keep reading to learn what you can do to cope with your allergy symptoms.
If you purchase any type of antihistamine for allergy purposes, be sure that you test it first. Many antihistamines can cause people to feel drowsy and inhibit their different reflexes. It’s always a good idea to try the medication out in a safe environment once or twice. Although the label may not include any dramatic warnings, you don’t want to find out that you react poorly to the medicine while you’re driving.
Test out allergy medicine at home before going anywhere. Many antihistamines can cause people to feel drowsy and inhibit their different reflexes. Anytime you are trying a new allergy medication, you should give yourself plenty of time to determine what the results will be. Even allergy medications that do not carry dire warnings may cause problems when driving or performing other potentially dangerous feats.
Although you may try to avoid them, you will always have to deal with dust mites! Like their name describes, they live in pillows and mattresses feeding on flakes of skin. Disgusting! Use dust mite covers that help keep out dust mites from both your mattress and your pillows. Also, launder your bedding weekly with hot water in order to kill all dust mites.
There is no way that you can avoid dust mites. They live in your bed linens, bed and pillows. Eww! 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.
Age can actually play an important role in your allergy profile. For instance, babies experience proteins first through the food they eat, and that explains how many food allergies some babies can have. As infants become young children, they become exposed to other protein allergens. Later, they could develop pollen allergies. If your child suffers from any sort of allergy, get them to the doctor for an allergy test to learn exactly what they are allergic to.
Keep your bathroom well-ventilated in order to keep mildew and mold at bay. These types of allergens live and grow in warm, damp environments. It’s a good idea to turn on a ventilation fan and hang wet towels up on bars to dry after bathing. If your bathroom does not contain a fan, open a window to let cold air in.
Check to see that your restroom is ventilated properly to reduce the risk of mildew and mold. Hot, humid conditions are outstanding for cultivating these allergens. After showering, be sure to turn your fan on, and keep any wet towels hung out on bars to dry completely. If a fan is something you do not own, merely crack a small window to allow for fresh air circulation.
It is not uncommon for your own body to be a culprit in your allergy attacks. Believe it or not, it’s true! Throughout the day, pollen and dust particles adhere to your clothes, hair and skin. By bedtime, you have collected enough allergens to cause difficulty breathing properly while you sleep. Shower each night and choose some fresh pajamas to wear to bed for a comfortable night of sleep.
Steer clear of products made with coloring or dye, because you might be allergic to those substances. Even toilet paper may be treated with dyes if it features a print or design. You should change things around your house, like changing to products that are white paper.
Pollen Levels
Some allergy treatments you may have tried out didn’t work as advertised. Well, the important thing is that you don’t stop trying different tactics. There are other allergy medications available, other than oral medications. Other medical solutions you can try include prescription drugs, such as leukotriene blockers and nasal steroids, and basic OTC alternatives, such as antihistamine eye drops and nasal saline sprays.
If you are going to be exercising outside during the times of the year that there are high pollen levels, do so either very early in the morning or late in the evening. These are the times of day when pollen levels are less threatening, which will allow you a more vigorous and comfortable work out environment.
Consult with your doctor if all of your OTC and home remedy efforts have failed. Your doctor will probably have just the right medicine for you! They may also be able to suggest additional ways you can cope with your allergies.
Remove carpets if you suffer from allergies. Carpet is infamous for dead dust mites, pollen and dust. If you have wall-to-wall carpeting, consider switching to wood, laminate or tile floors, if finances allow. You will see a drastic decrease in the allergens. Even still, you need to clean your hardwood floors just as often.
You can help lessen your allergies by cleaning the interior of your car often, and shutting the car windows. Using air conditioning and keeping all of your vents in closed positions will prevent pollen and allergens from coming in. Keep the carpet and seats free from dust and dirt by vacuuming often. This can lessen your allergy problems.
Pay close attention to what times of day your allergy symptoms occur. 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 to go out, limit your activity to a short period of time.
The most obvious way to reduce allergic reactions is to avoid allergens. If you discover dust to be an issue, make sure to clean regularly and do your best to get rid of what dust you can. If pets cause you the most trouble, consider finding new homes for them, or at least be sure that they are bathed regularly. Careful attention to vacuuming and dusting will help with dust allergies as well as pet dander.
If you keep experiencing the same allergy symptoms, it may be easier to deal with the symptoms rather than avoiding the allergic reaction. For instance, allergy sufferers that typically experience dry or itchy eyes should keep their eye drops handy during allergy season. If your throat always feels scratchy, have some soothing drops in your pocket or purse.
Switch to pillows made from synthetic materials instead of feathers. Dust mites enter these pillows last after the other materials. Even though you must still wash them frequently to rid them of allergens and dust, they will still be much more comfortable for sleeping.
Even the wrong antiperspirant can be an allergy nightmare. In many cases, these products are made with substances that are harmful to the skin and can even enter the body through the pores. Using products that contain these ingredients may wreak havoc on your skin.
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. Drying in the breeze may give your clothes that fresh, outdoor scent. It may also increase your risk of inhaling spores or pollen. Of course, this won’t work if you’re allergic to dyes and fragrances.
If you are currently taking allergy medication, regardless of what kind it is, you should make sure you go visit a medical professional. With their expertise, you can make sure that your medication is suitable for your allergy symptoms, and that you’re using it properly.
Allergies cause post-nasal drip, which often leads to sore throats; as an alternative to taking a lot of medicine for your sore throat, try salt water gargling instead. Simply combine a bit of warm water and table salt, tilt your head backwards and swish the solution around. This should soothe and heal your aching throat.
You can avoid using creams and sprays to fix your hair, which can cause you to have an allergic reaction. Styling products help catch allergens in your hair that cause allergies. However, these particular products attract pollen and can attract allergens to your tresses.
Get yourself a humidifier. A humidifier could halt allergens from moving about your house. Allergens are attracted to the water and are stopped from circulating. That means that the allergens will never reach your nose and throat, which means you won’t suffer any allergic reactions.
When you’re long overdue for a vacation, you may be tempted to pick a location at random and get out of town. If you or someone in your family suffers from allergies, this is a risky move. Before deciding on a destination, research pollen counts, weather conditions and other things that could trigger allergies.
Look into homeopathic treatments for allergy symptoms. Many people rely on prescription-only medications or antihistamines but never explore natural remedies. The best aspect of homeopathic remedies is that you won’t have to worry about suffering from ill side effects. Even if they don’t work the way you have planned, they’re all (or at least the majority) very safe for you to try. Most drugstores and supermarkets stock homeopathic remedies, as do health food stores.
Do not panic if your allergy test shows many different positive reactions. Lots of people breathe in allergens daily, but they may not have any allergic reactions. Only in times of extreme cases do people experience an allergic reaction.
Bathe your animals frequently, if their hair and dander is causing your sneezing and sniffling. The dander from your pet may be causing you to have allergy symptoms, but when your pet is bathed regularly that dander will be reduced. If at all possible, have a family member bathe your pet; doing it yourself could incite an allergy attack. As a last resort, have someone take your pet to a groomer.
Be sure that your surroundings are as clean as they can be. Allergies are often triggered by multiple things in the environment. If you eliminate as many of those things as you can from your immediate surroundings, your symptoms will not be as severe. Perform this cleanup on a regular basis.
Avoid tobacco smoke, whether at home or in your car, as this can trigger allergies. If you smoke, you need to attempt to quit. In addition, you should stay away from fireplaces and stoves that burn wood due to the fact that smoke can irritate your allergies.
You do not have to avoid going outside due to your allergy symptoms; get in control! Understanding what your options are is step number one, then controlling the problems is the next step. Keep these tips close any time your allergies get out of control.
You do not have to fight allergies by yourself. You do not have to endure a life of snorting, sneezing and crying, as there are some very effective allergy treatment options available. Visit your local doctor if over-the-counter medications are not working for you. If you go to a professional, you can get a prescription for an allergy medication just right for your situation. Then you can enjoy your life without sneezing and sniffling.