Many people try to reduce cooling costs by opening windows on pleasant days. Unfortunately, doing so may actually invite an allergy attack. For the best results, you can use a HEPA filter with your air conditioner, and that will decrease the allergens that circulate indoors. This will help you breathe easier; even though, the air may not seem as fresh.
Are your allergies preventing you from going outside on warm and nice days? Though lots of people wrestle with allergies every day, you do not nned to be among them. There are numerous allergy triggers in the air that are capable of causing a wide range of symptoms. This article will show you ways you can find relief from allergies.
There is no way that you can avoid dust mites. As you might have expected from the name, these critters are a fixture on mattresses and pillows. They eat the flakes that you shed from your skin. Not such a pretty picture! However, you can fight back with the use of specially designed covers for your pillows and mattresses. Wash your bedding in piping hot water every week; it will kill dust mites.
Nice weather often leads to open windows to let air circulate and lower air conditioning bills. But, this could cause your allergies to act up. For best results, outfit your air conditioner with a HEPA filter, which will reduce the amount of allergens indoors. It might not seem as fresh at first, but you are going to be able to breathe much more easily.
If you would like to own a pet, even though you suffer from allergies, choose one that has short hair. You can find a dog or cat that doesn’t shed all over the place to reduce the chances of you having a bad allergic reaction. Also, to lessen the amount of pet allergies, never let them cuddle up in your bed.
Wash allergens off with a shower before bedtime. Pollen can collect on the surface of your skin and in your hair, which may cause an allergic reaction while you sleep. Simply wash quickly, and you will find you feel much better.
If you are getting allergy symptoms, watch what time of day they happen. Some experts believe that allergies are at their worst during the early morning to late morning hours. It’s important that you limit your exposure to the elements during times when pollen is running rampant.
Dust Mites
If see an infestation of pest or rodents in your home, hire an exterminator. Insect and mice droppings can aggravate allergy symptoms. Hire an exterminator to remove these problems and clear your air.
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. They can’t be seen easily, but they are there and contribute to allergies for some people. Use dust mite covers that help keep out dust mites from both your mattress and your pillows. Be sure to wash your bedding weekly in hot water to kill off dust mites.
Make sure you consult with a medical professional before you take any allergy medications. They will help you in finding the best medicine that can help you with the symptoms that you are experiencing.
Bathrooms should be ventilated to reduce mold and mildew. These kinds of allergens love warm, damp places to live. After you shower, use a fan and hang up wet washcloths and towels. If your house is not equipped with a fan, open a window to get some air moving.
Use synthetic pillows as a hypo-allergenic solution to down-filled pillows, or bedding that contains other natural substances. You will find that dust mites will look to these pillows only if natural materials are present. It is important to get allergy covers for the pillows, and launder both the covers and pillows often.
While skin tests are helpful for finding out what allergies you may have, it might be impossible to test what would happen if you had a reaction to the allergen. For example, testing can tell you if you have a pollen allergy. You could suffer from a mild allergic reaction and not notice it.
Chances are, your children with allergies have emergency medication. A note from a pediatrician explaining the allergies your child has can be useful. Give your child’s school nurse or teacher their allergy medicine to use in an emergency situation. It is also wise to send a list of allergens to the school, as well as placing one in your child’s backpack.
Remove carpets if you suffer from allergies. Carpet is a magnet for allergens including dust, dead dust mites, and pollen. If carpeting is currently in your home and you have the finances to make a change, you may want to consider switching over to tile, wood, or laminate flooring. You will see a drastic decrease in the allergens. If new flooring is not currently an option, at least try to vacuum your carpets once daily.
Determine what is different with allergies and colds. Allergies are not as harsh as a cold and might get worse without reason and last for long periods. If you are consistently getting “colds”, you are more than likely suffering from allergies. If you are unsure, visit a doctor and go over your symptoms.
A common recommendation for those with allergies is to buy a humidifier so that the sufferer’s airways are hydrated. This might not be a great idea, as the humidifier’s mist that settles on the carpet may encourage molds to grow and could become musty. Nasal saline spray administered at bedtime is a far better idea.
Keep your home sealed by closing all windows during times of high pollen counts. If you need some cool air, then the best thing for you to do is to turn on an air-conditioning unit, which will keep the air cool and dry.
Make sure you get rid of all insects and rodents in your home by calling an exterminator. The droppings of vermin, such as cockroaches and rodents, can seriously exacerbate the symptoms of allergies. You will be able to breathe better after you have hired an exterminator to rid your home of vermin.
Cross-contamination of foods is a good way to spread allergies around, so be sure to keep foods separate if someone has allergies. Ridding yourself of foods that are known to cause allergies will prevent you from eating them in the future.
Make sure you pick out an antiperspirant carefully. Many common ingredients are very harsh chemicals which can aggravate skin, and if you are prone to allergies, these may be even harder on you. Take care to read labels so that you can stay away from ingredients that cause your skin trouble.
Even the tiniest amount of pollen can trigger an allergic reaction in certain people, so reducing it in any way will alleviate symptoms. Leave your coat and shoes outside the front door to prevent pollen from entering your home. Washing your hair when you come from outdoors is a great way to get rid of any pollen that has settled in it.
Make sure your bathroom is clean. Warm, humid bathrooms can become hotbeds of mold unless they are cleaned weekly. Use a bleach and water solution to wash the walls and eliminate mold. That way, it is possible to prevent the growth of mold in the first place, which can exacerbate existing allergies.
If you are experiencing air-borne allergies, a good thing to do is to buy an air purifier containing a HEPA filter. HEPA Filters minimize your home’s pollen, mold and pet dander. Try and find a reusable filter so that you can save money.
Always remember to pack your allergy medications when you travel. You never know what kinds of new plants, pollen or other allergy triggers you may encounter. If you’ve ever suffered from a severe reaction due to allergies, it may be wise to carry around an Epi-pen, as well. Having epinephrine with you can make sure you stay stable in case of an attack.
Keep your garbage outside. Bugs and mice are attracted to garbage. Insect and rodent droppings can cause allergies. If moving your garbage outdoors does not take care of your pest infestation, it may be time to use traps or pesticides. If traps do not work, you should consider using poison to alleviate any rodent problems.
Natural Materials
Try using synthetic pillows rather than ones made of natural materials. Dust mites prefer natural materials, and will avoid synthetic material. They still need to be washed, but they are more allergy friendly than other pillows.
Allergies that cause an excess of drainage can leave you with a sore throat. Try gargling salt water. Just mix a little warm water with regular table salt, and swish it around your mouth with your head tilted back. This can help soothe your irritated throat.
With any luck, you now understand that living with allergies is possible, and does not need to include interminable frustration. Use this article and you will enjoy spending time outdoors, rather than having to hibernate when your allergies flare up.