For animal lovers out there who also suffer from allergies, it’s best if you select some type of pet with shorter hair. Any animal that you are allergic to can cause unpleasant symptoms, but those with longer fur make symptoms worse. You also want to avoid sleeping with your pets if you don’t want to have an allergic reaction.
An all to frequent problem for lots of people are seasonal allergies. Rather than dealing with consistently runny noses or itchy eyes, discover how you can regain control over your life in a clear-headed fashion. Read on to learn of ways to combat allergy symptoms.
Try not to get discouraged if the first couple of allergy treatments you try do not provide satisfactory results. In addition to oral medications, there are many other forms that can offer a reprieve from your allergic symptoms. You might try eye drops, a nasal spray, or get a prescription from your doctor for leukotriene blockers.
Dust Mites
Nearly everyone who battles allergies has heard that running a humidifier at night helps by keeping airways moist. This procedure is not without potential drawbacks. Increasing the room’s humidity can encourage mustiness and the mold growth in fertile areas like the carpeting. Try using saline spray prior to bed for keeping your nasal passages moist.
Dust mites are an unavoidable allergen. These little havoc-causers absolutely love to cling to pillows, carpet fibers, mattresses, clothes, and other materials. Gross! Create a hostile environment for mites by purchasing zippered hypoallergenic cases and covers for your pillows and mattress. Wash your bedding once a week in hot water to eradicate dust mites.
An important way to remove another cause of allergy issues is keeping a clean car. Make sure it stays closed also. Keeping all the vents closed and turning on the air conditioner will help to keep pollen as well as other types of allergens out of the vehicle. Vacuum the interior of the car on a regular basis. This will reduce the chance of having an allergy attack.
Pollen counts are higher and lower at different times of the day. Try to make the times you go outside happen in the wee morning hours, or late at night. Studies show that pollen levels are lowest at these times of the day and you will be most comfortable.
Bathrooms should be kept sparkling. In general, bathrooms are ground zero for mold, and they should be thoroughly cleaned once every week. To reduce mold, wipe your walls with a bleach and water mix. This prevents mold from growing and increasing the symptoms of allergies.
A great thing to do when you have bronchial allergies is to make sure you are always hydrated. Your mucosal membranes can become irritated if you aren’t getting enough water. In addition, dehydration can cause the normal secretions of these membranes to become thick and difficult to expel.
Don’t open your windows during peak pollen hours. It’s always nice to get some fresh air into your home, but any beneficial effects of the fresh air may be countered by the increased pollen if you open your window during peak pollen hours. This is typically from mid-morning until mid-afternoon. In the late afternoon, you can allow your house to air with the windows open.
If you experience allergies from pollen, watch the time. For example, from 5 to 10 a.m. pollen levels are at their highest. If you have to go out, limit your activity to a short period of time.
Post-nasal drip can occur from allergies. This often causes sore throats. Because of this, you should attempt gargling salt water for a sore throat instead of taking a large amount of medicine. Just add a bit of table salt to some warm water, take a mouth full, and tilt your head back to gargle it. This is very soothing for a sore throat.
Don’t lose hope if every allergy treatment you have tried has not worked. In addition to the standard pill medications, your doctor has many other forms of medication to treat allergy symptoms. For example, you may consider over-the-counter nasal saline sprays, allergy eye drops or prescription alternatives, like nasal steroids and leukotriene blockers.
Weekly dusting can have a positive effect on the symptoms of your allergies. Some people mistakenly only dust when they can visibly see a build up of dust on their furniture. Dusting weekly, however, could significantly reduce your allergy symptoms.
Monitor your stress level. A lot of people do not know that being stressed can heighten your allergic reactions. This is especially true for anyone who is asthmatic. Having an attack is heightened when you are more stressed. This does not cure your condition but it will in fact lower how often you have problems with allergies.
Have your pet bathed on a regular basis to control allergy triggers. By bathing your pet regularly, you will help reduce your pet’s dander which is the likely cause of your allergies. Your best bet is to take your pet to be bathed at a groomer if you suffer from allergies when giving your pet a bath.
Talk to your doctor if you are having a hard time managing your allergies. They might be able to prescribe something to finally get your allergies under control and make life manageable for you. The physician may also suggest something you’ve not tried yet and have other valuable advice for you.
Keep allergy symptoms at bay by keeping your home, especially the kitchen, clear of crumbs and particles of food. The reason this is important is that crumbs attract vermin such as mice and cockroaches. These creatures and the waste they leave behind pose not only a health risk, but can trigger allergic reactions.
Clean your car often and keep it closed so that you can prevent at least one potential allergen source. Using the air-conditioner, and keeping all vents closed will keep pollen and other allergens out. Vacuum the interior of the car on a regular basis. This could cause a reduction in allergies.
In the event the pollen count and humidity count are high, stay inside. Be sure to keep your pets in as well. This is because pollen could settle inside the animal’s coat, causing it to be brought inside your house which may trigger your problem.
Make sure you get rid of all insects and rodents in your home by calling an exterminator. Household pests leave fecal matter, and the like, that make allergies worse. Hire an exterminator to remove these problems and clear your air.
To find out which allergens you need to avoid, book a consultation with an allergist/immunologist and ask for a skin test. A skin test is a great indicator of various allergens. It can assist you in identifying what your problem areas are and what you need to avoid. If you have a good idea as to what might be causing your allergic reactions, then you can make the needed lifestyle changes so you can avoid them in the future.
Use your allergy medication properly. Most medications require days of constant use for them to work. You should not expect to instantly cure sneezing when taking medication. Consult your allergy specialist to make sure you are taking the proper amount of medication.
Always keep your home as clean as possible, taking care to get rid of whatever mold you might find. Mold is serious business, and can exacerbate existing allergies, so search your home high and low for any mold and remove it, with professional assistance if necessary.
If you have spent at least an hour or so outdoors, you have likely picked up a few unwanted airborne allergens. The sooner you have a warm shower, the better. Do not go to bed without bathing. This water can wash away pollen, mold and various other allergens. These irritants might be on the skin or in the hair.
If you love smelling laundry that has dried in the sun, try using laundry detergent with a light fragrance or some fabric softener. Letting your clothes dry outside will make them smell sun-kissed. But, it can also boost your chances of encountering spores and pollen. This is not a good idea for people that have sensitivities to fragrances or dyes.
Vitamin C
You may be able to get control of your allergy symptoms by taking more vitamin C. Vitamin C boosts your immunity and naturally is an antihistimine. It’s recommended to get about 1000mg of it to protect yourself from allergies. Additionally, eating foods high in Omega-3 may also help treat allergies.
Resist the temptation to rub your eyes with your fingers if your allergies tend to make them dry or itchy. Instead try antihistamine eye drops to remedy your sore, scratchy eyes. If you keep rubbing your eyes, follicles along the lash line can become irritated and result in allergic styes.
Purchase a humidifier to place in your house. This is a great way to reduce allergen circulation in your home. The moisture the humidifier emits is like a magnet for allergens. It attracts them and removes them from the air. Therefore, you won’t inhale dust and other allergens that are lingering in the air.
Many people who live in large cities are allergic to the smog and other pollutants. If you’re in a city and feeling congested, try taking week-long trip outside of your city to see if city smog is what causes your allergies.
As already mentioned, all kinds of allergies are common. There are many ways to deal with allergies, though. Remember the tips in this article so you can live life, without constant sneezes!