For safety’s sake, remember to use over-the-counter antihistamine when you are at home. It is common for such drugs to be made with substances that tend to cause drowsiness. You might think that the drug is fairly innocuous, especially if you don’t see any warning label, but you never really know how you’re going to react to a new drug.
It can be tough to enjoy the summer months if hay fever and pollen allergies persist. You do not have to stay indoors while everyone else is taking advantage of the weather. You can get a handle on your allergies and minimize the negative effects by checking out the handy advice presented below.
If you want a cat or dog, but are allergic, find a pet with short fur. All warm-blooded animals have the potential for causing allergy problems. Those with long hair or copious feathers are the worst! Your pets need to have their own beds rather than sleeping with you. If you have allergies, sleeping with your face pressed into pet dander eight hours per night is not a good idea.
When the weather is nice, you may be tempted to open the windows in your home to save money on cooling costs. However, this may not be such a good idea because it can cause your allergy symptoms to flare-up. For the best results, you can use a HEPA filter with your air conditioner, and that will decrease the allergens that circulate indoors. Although it might not seem quite as fresh, it will help you breathe better.
Think about taking the carpet out of your house. Pollen and dust tends to gather on carpets. If you have carpet all over your house try to consider switching to either wood or tile floors, if you are able to pay for it. Doing so will greatly reduce a concentration of allergy triggers in your home. Even still, you need to clean your hardwood floors just as often.
Wash allergens off with a shower before bedtime. As the day goes by you are slowly collecting pollen on your clothes and on your body, so to prevent yourself from being woken at night by a reaction it is best to clean yourself. A quick wash can help you feel better later.
If you are taking any kind of allergy medication, whether prescription or not, be sure to talk to a medical professional. Doctors can advise you on which medications are best for the specific symptoms you have.
Dust Mites
Try using synthetic pillows rather than ones made of natural materials. Dust mites prefer natural materials, and will avoid synthetic material. You still must wash them to keep up on getting rid of dust and allergens, but they are better to sleep on.
It is impossible to avoid dust mites. These little havoc-causers absolutely love to cling to pillows, carpet fibers, mattresses, clothes, and other materials. Eww! It is possible to fight these home invaders, however. There are special mattress and pillowcases with zippers that are specifically designed to keep dust mites out. You also need to wash your bedding in some hot water every week as that kills them.
Keep your home clean. People are usually affected by lots of things which cause allergies, so being tidy and getting rid of the allergens at home is beneficial to dealing with this issue. Stay clean and practice good hygiene.
For animal lovers out there who also suffer from allergies, it’s best if you select some type of pet with shorter hair. Short-haired animals don’t impact allergies nearly as bad as long-haired ones do. Prevent your pet from worsening your allergies by providing its own bed rather than letting it sleep with you.
Those dealing with allergies must vacuum regularly. This eliminates allergens in your home. Check out your vacuum too. If you have an older vacuum, it will blow allergens back into the environment. The best vacuum cleaners are fitted with HEPA filters. These filers trap 99% of tiny particles and allergens, and prevent them from circulating in the air in your home.
You can cut down on mildew and mold by making sure that you have plenty of ventilation in your bathroom. Moist, warm temperatures create a breeding ground for these common allergens. Therefore, you should ensure that you hang washcloths and wet towels on a bar, and after you shower, turn on the fan. If there isn’t a fan, try cracking a window to get some fresh air circulation.
Closing the windows for the day may shut out fresh air, but it will also keep pollen out, which tends to be more rampant during the daylight hours. If cool air is lacking, just crank up your air conditioner.
If you have pets and allergies, you may not know if they are causing your allergy symptoms. Ask your doctor to give you an allergy test to determine if animals are one of your allergies. If you pet is the cause, it is unlikely that you will have to go as far as getting rid of the pet. That said, you will likely have to change a few things.
Consume more vitamin C in your diet to help your immune system combat allergies. There is loads of vitamin-C in fruits and fruit juices, and you can also find supplements that don’t cost that much.
Stress Level
Ask your doctor what options you have. You can find a lot of medications over-the-counter, so do some searching. But, doctors possess greater knowledge of allergy causes and treatments that may work well for you. A doctor can give you a professional opinion, giving you insight and ideas that you may not have considered.
Monitor your stress level. Stress can increase your vulnerability to allergic reactions. This is especially true for individuals with asthma. The higher the stress level, the greater the susceptibility to an allergy attack. Although this cannot cure allergies or asthma, it can reduce the amounts of attacks and how long they last.
Seek the help of an allergist who can perform skin tests to determine your allergen triggers. A skin test will tell your allergist what you are allergic to. Popular allergens include animal hair and pollen. If you are aware of your allergens, you can take steps to avoid contact with them.
Keeping your car clean and its windows up can save you from some potential allergy triggers. If you use an air conditioner with the vents closed it will keep out pollen as well as other allergens. Also, vacuum regularly to keep the upholstery free from anything that might accumulate there. This can help to lessen allergies symptoms.
In addition to keeping your home scrupulously clean, you should also be extremely vigilant in eradicating mold wherever and whenever you find it. Mold can do great harm when it comes to allergy sufferers, and it must be eradicated.
If you have allergies, avoid triggers as much as possible. Keep your home free of dust and dirt, and keep your windows closed so that dust doesn’t enter easily. If pet dander or fur is a source of your allergies, think about finding new homes for your pets; if that is not an option, bathe and groom them regularly. In addition, frequent dusting and vacuuming can be instrumental in reducing animal dander.
Keep windows in your home and office closed as often as possible. This prevents dust and other particulates from getting into your home and triggering your allergies. When your windows are open, dust from the outside comes in, collecting on your belongings and irritating your airways.
Clean Bathroom
Be sure to keep a clean bathroom. Because mold likes to proliferate in bathrooms, it’s a good idea to give the bathroom a weekly scrubbing. Use bleach diluted with water to thoroughly clean bathroom walls. This can prevent mold from accumulating and worsening your allergies.
Sometimes having allergies means avoiding the triggers, but there are also many solutions available that won’t mean you have to change your lifestyle, avoid animals completely or stay away from the park. Live life simpler by learning what your options are, beginning with the information within this article. Don’t continue suffering. Do something about your symptoms for a happier life!