To be safe, test new antihistamines while at home. It’s best to use them at home first because a lot of them are filled with ingredients which cause drowsiness. Even if the packaging does not contain a warning, when you take the first couple of doses, do it during a time that you are able to stay home and see how it makes you feel.
Anyone who is dealing with allergies knows that it is hard to enjoy the warm weather months, especially when the pollen counts are very high. Do not stay inside the house while your family and friends are enjoying the weather. Read this article to learn how to effectively manage your allergies and breathe easy.
Because everyone is different, there are myriad allergy relief products available from doctors and pharmacists. If purchasing a new product for the first time, look for the smaller travel sizes so you can test it out or request complimentary office samples from your doctor. If that particular product does not alleviate your allergic symptoms, you can move onto the next one without throwing away your money.
If you can, do not have carpet or rugs in your house. Carpet fibers harbor allergens such as pollen, dander, dust mites and dust. No matter how much you clean, you will never get them all, and they will continue to cause irritation for people with allergies. If you or someone in your family has allergies, you will be better served by flooring that is easy to clean; tile, wood and linoleum are ideal.
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. When it comes to allergies, there’s more than one way to skin a cat. There are a wide range of medications and holistic treatments you can try. For instance, try over-the-counter nasal sprays and eye drops for allergy eyes or even prescription alternatives, such as leukotriene blockers and nasal steroids.
Dust Mites
Don’t forget your medication when you go on vacation. When you are away from home, you can never be sure what types of allergens you may come into contact with. If your allergies are severe, it may be a good idea to carry an Epi-pen, as well. Emergency allergy attacks can be stopped by this concentrated epinephrine dose.
Coming into contact with dust mites is unavoidable. As their name suggests, they love to make their home in mattresses and pillows, dining on shed skin flakes. Yuck! Soon consider investing into a zippered covering to keep your pillow fresh and clean. Be sure to wash your bedding weekly in hot water to kill off dust mites.
If you’re in dire need of a vacation getaway, you might find yourself settling on any destination as long as it’s far, far away from work, school and stress. This is risky if you have allergies or one of your family members do. Prior to picking a vacation destination, research prospective locations for pollen counts, weather conditions and other allergy triggers.
If one allergy product does produce the desired effect, it’s not yet time to throw in the towel. Allergy medications come in a number of different forms that may be very helpful to you. For example, you may consider over-the-counter nasal saline sprays, allergy eye drops or prescription alternatives, like nasal steroids and leukotriene blockers.
Those with strong allergies have to vacuum carpets every day. Vacuuming reduces the presence of allergens. Before vacuuming, check your vacuum to ensure that the bag does not need replaced or the dust bin emptied. Older style vacuums can re-distribute allergens, releasing them back to the air. A HEPA filter is standard issue with most modern vacuum cleaners. These devices will filter out almost 100% of allergens and minute particles to keep your air clean.
The time of the day that you decide to exercise can have an impact on your allergies. The more that you work out the harder it is for you to breathe. 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.
Know how to identify differences between allergies and a cold. Allergies are generally “light” colds that can improve or worsen no matter what, and they might stick around for long periods of time. If you are consistently getting “colds”, you are more than likely suffering from allergies. If you don’t know, see your doctor.
Select antiperspirants with care. They can have things in them that will hurt your skin, particularly if they get into your pores. Using products that contain these ingredients may wreak havoc on your skin.
Avoid tobacco smoke, whether at home or in your car, as this can trigger allergies. If you smoke, try hard to quit. Also consider avoiding wood burning stoves and fireplaces since the smoke they produce can be irritating.
During allergy season, style your hair without using sprays, gels or creams. Spending time outdoors usually means returning home with pollen and airborne allergens trapped in your hair. Using various hair-styling products may simply attract pollen and other allergens to your hair.
Consult your doctor to discuss the choices available to you. Lots of people today who have allergies usually take care of it themselves, especially since there are so many over the counter medications at your local pharmacy. However, your doctor has a better understanding of your allergies and can advise you accordingly. You may find that there are allergy treatments available that are entirely new to you if you get the professional opinion of a physician.
If you have been outside for 60 minutes or so, it is almost certain that you have attracted at least some airborne allergens. The sooner you have a warm shower, the better. Do not go to bed without bathing. Water is the perfect way to get rid of pollen, mold, and any other allergens that you may have picked up. These allergens can get into your hair or coat your skin.
If both you and your partner suffer from allergies, there is a 70% likelihood that your kids will suffer from them also. Be mindful of this and test your kids early for allergies. Learning of any allergies early on will allow you to keep your child away from triggers.
Scented Laundry
Adding probiotics to your daily diet can help to alleviate allergy symptoms. Yogurt and kefir both contain probiotics. Some allergists believe that probiotics can help increase the body’s response to allergens, making symptoms less severe. You can also take probiotics in over the counter capsule forms.
If you want your clean laundry to smell sun-dried, purchase a scented laundry fabric softener or detergent. It is not uncommon to love the scent the air and sun leave on air dried clothes. It may also increase your risk of inhaling spores or pollen. Specially scented laundry products are only recommended if you have no aversions to dyes or strong perfume type chemicals.
Many homes with pets have too much dander, and the effects of allergy shots cannot overcome it. If the pets can be relocated outside, allergy shots will have an increased chance of working. For the very best results, also make sure to steam clean the rugs and wash the furniture. Of course, this is a lot easier to say than do.
Don’t be scared if you get results from allergy tests and find out you have multiple triggers. Lots of people come into contact with allergens regularly but don’t have noticeable reactions. With the exception of extreme cases, allergies may not be detected for years if obvious symptoms do not appear.
If you suffer from air-borne allergies, you might want to consider purchasing an air purifier that has a HEPA filter. These filters stop mold spores, pet dander, and pollen from floating around inside your house. If cost is an issue, look for purifiers that feature reusable filters. These can be cleaned and reused instead of being replaced every month.
If you suffer from seasonal allergies you should ensure that you wash hair and change your clothes when you come inside. The cleaner you are, the less likely you are to have to suffer with different allergens out there.
Many people who live in large cities are allergic to the smog and other pollutants. The city is full of smog and all types of pollutants. The thicker atmosphere also traps in the pollen and other allergens. If things ever become too much to bear, leave the city altogether for a while and get yourself some good, clean country air.
If a pet is reason for the sneezes and sniffles that you’re experiencing, remember to bathe them regularly. The allergen at issue here is pet dander, and you will run into a less of it after your pets have had a good wash. If possible, do not give your pet a bath yourself, as dander can fly around while you are bathing them and your allergies could act up.
If you have severe allergies, then avoid smoking and second-hand smoke at all costs. If smoking is a habit of yours, consider quitting. It is also wise to avoid fireplaces, stoves and other things where wood is burned as smoke is an irritant.
Some of the ways to control allergies is to make sure you do not have crumbs in the house, especially behind appliances. Pests, such as mice and cockroaches, are attracted to crumbs. And, the solid waste they leave behind can trigger allergies in some people.
Education is always the key to avoiding any type of allergies. Even if you cannot completely avoid them, you can at least learn how to treat the symptoms. By doing your research, you can learn of choices for dealing with allergies, including the ones given to you in this article. You don’t have to suffer forever; you can be in control of your allergies.