For safety’s sake, always test a new over-the-counter antihistamine at home. Often antihistamines will have ingredients that induce 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.
If you have swollen, itchy eyes along with frequent coughs, sneezes or a runny nose, chances are that you are an allergy victim. Your symptoms, which can be similar to the common cold, can be managed. Read on for advice on how to manage your allergy symptoms.
People are more prone to allergies at certain times of their lives than at others. For instance, babies experience proteins first through the food they eat, and that explains how many food allergies some babies can have. As a child grows up, he continues to be exposed to new foods, and may also pick up pollen allergies once he starts spending more time playing outdoors. If you have a child who shows signs of being allergic to spores or pollen, pay close attention to this and because they could be allergic to many non-food allergies too.
Whenever you use a new OTC antihistamine, test it out at home first. This type of medication can cause drowsiness and slowed reflexes. Even when there is no severe warning listed on the label, take the initial dose whey you are in the comfort of your own home and do not need to operate a vehicle or anything else potentially hazardous if you become drowsy.
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 this product doesn’t help your allergies, then you can easily get another without having to spend a great deal of money.
You may want to crack open your windows when it is nice outside. However, this could lead to allergy flare-ups. Make sure you use HEPA filters in your air conditioner because they help get rid of indoor allergens. You can breathe easier when you apply this simple change.
Talk to a doctor before taking any allergy medicine. These professionals will monitor the type of medication you are taking, as well as the dosage. They can change what you are taking if a medication isn’t working.
Before you sleep at night, get rid of the allergens by showering thoroughly. 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. As long as you have a quick wash, you will have few problems with allergies.
When you want to go on a vacation, don’t just randomly pick a place to go. People with severe allergies can subject themselves to potent allergen levels in unfamiliar places. It’s a good idea to research the weather, pollen conditions, and other allergy concerns that you’ll encounter before you finalize your travel plans.
Keep your bathroom well-ventilated in order to keep mildew and mold at bay. Moist, warm temperatures create a breeding ground for these common allergens. Keep wet towels and washcloths hung on bars, and turn on a fan after showering. If your bathroom does not include a fan, open a window to let air circulate through the room.
Increase the amount of Vitamin C that you consume to reduce your allergy symptoms. Vitamin C boosts your immune system, and may be a natural anti-histamine. So you should take around 1000mg to your diet. Also, foods with a high Omega-3 content help control allergies.
Get rid of the carpeting in your home to fight allergies. Expired dust mites, pollen and dust can be found in great plentitude in carpet. If you have carpeting that is wall-to-wall, you may wish to switch to laminate, tile or wood floors. You will see a drastic decrease in the allergens. If you cannot change your floor, be sure to vacuum everyday.
Know the difference between a cold and allergies. Colds last awhile, while allergies come and go and annoy you. If you feel as if you are getting colds all the time, there is a big chance that you’re allergic to something. Talk to your doctor to be sure.
Keep your windows closed. When opening windows, you can let in pollen which makes allergic symptoms worse. Change out dirty air conditioning filters often to keep them as clean as possible to reduce allergens from circulating inside your dwelling.
It can help to explore homeopathic remedies to treat your allergies. Many people take all sorts of medication for allergies, but you should try out homeopathic solution. These particular remedies often do not have all the bad side effects prescription medicines have. In addition, they usually work more effectively than many of these medicines. You may be able to find these at drugstore or health food stores.
When traveling, if you have a child who suffers from food allergies, make sure you stock up on foods safe for his or consumption. This is especially important if you are touring in a foreign country. It can be hard to find out if foods have allergens in them, which can cause a reaction.
A person suffering from seasonal allergies would do well to shampoo frequently. Hair houses dust, pollen and dander. Since your hair is close by the nasal cavity, it is easy to breathe in these allergens. You should be washing your hair every day during high allergy seasons.
The time of the day that you decide to exercise can have an impact on your allergies. Exercise increases the rate of your breathing. Do your exercises indoors at non-peak hours when the pollen count is lower to reduce the intake of allergens into your body.
Make sure your bathroom remains as dry as you can in order to decrease mold. An exhaust fan can help to eliminate moist air from your bathroom, and it can help decrease mold. When you are cleaning, use something that contains bleach. Chlorine bleach will kill any mold spores that are trying to grow.
You should not have to avoid doing things that you enjoy because you are an allergy sufferer. Knowing your options will allow you to manage your symptoms effectively. These hints in this article can help you live a fuller life with allergies.
Talk to your doctor about your options. Most people that have allergies handle it on their own, especially now that most medications can be purchased over-the-counter. That said, a doctor is trained to personalize a treatment program for you and address the root cause of your allergies. You may find that there are allergy treatments available that are entirely new to you if you get the professional opinion of a physician.