A person’s reaction to an allergen may change from one phase of life to another. Babies are often fed certain types of foods that do not trouble them with allergies, which can result in other types of allergies later on. Later in life, a child may become accustomed to a previously irritating food yet develop an allergy to some other substance, such as pollen. If you child starts to show allergic symptoms to spores or pollen, do not rule out the possibility of him not having an allergy due to him not displaying symptoms related to a non-food allergy.
Allergies are a very common problem for millions of people as the seasons start to change. Rather than going through another season under the misery of your symptoms or trudging through an over-medicated fog, take control of your allergies. Continue reading for some useful tips on how you can fight allergy symptoms.
The western part of the country has seen an upsurge in the popularity of olive trees as decoration. But there’s one big problem with these trees: They produce an abundance of pollen, and they produce it essentially the entire year. You should research this tree and others that produce a lot of pollen and make sure you stay away from them. A lot of people realize that turning a hose to the tree for a couple of minutes a day will reduce pollen issues.
Whenever you use a new OTC antihistamine, test it out at home first. These medications are known for having ingredients that can slow down your reaction time or even make you fall asleep. 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.
Don’t stop at a couple of allergy treatments just because they haven’t worked for you. Relief may be a box or tablet away. In addition to oral medications, there are many other forms that can offer a reprieve from your allergic symptoms. For instance, you could try eye drops made for allergies, saline sprays for the nose, or nasal steroids prescribed by your doctor.
Nice weather often leads to open windows to let air circulate and lower air conditioning bills. This, however, can cause a flare-up of allergy symptoms. To get the most noticeable results, get a HEPA filter for your air conditioning unit, thereby reducing the allergens that make it indoors. Although it might not seem quite as fresh, it will help you breathe better.
When planning a trip with a child suffering from food allergies, be sure to bring along plenty of safe foods. This is especially true if traveling abroad. Sometimes, ingredients won’t be clearly labeled on food items, and you don’t want to risk your child consuming that item he is allergic to.
Get rid of carpeting and avoid using rugs. Allergens like pollen, dust, dander, and mites tend to stick in carpet fibers, and people who are sensitive to them will find it is practically impossible to get rid of them entirely. Try to install floors that can be mopped and swept with ease.
If you find evidence of mice or insects in your home, have an exterminator treat your home on a regular basis. Insect and mice droppings can aggravate allergy symptoms. Hiring an exterminator and safely and quickly eliminate these unwanted guests from you home, allowing you to relax and breathe easy.
People are more likely to have allergies at different times in their lives. For example, food allergies are more common in infants as they are exposed to different things for the first time. As they grow older, their food allergies can develop into other ones such as pollen. If your child begins to display allergic symptoms to pollen or spores, don’t rule out a true allergic reaction simply because he or she previously displayed no indications of a non-food allergy.
Always be sure that you are receiving the proper medications for your children if they suffer from severe allergies of any type. Consult the pediatrician for a note that explains any allergies. Make sure the school has some medication on hand for emergencies. Your child and their school should also have a list containing any allergens that may affect your child.
If you suffer from allergies and want a pet, consider one with short hair. Although all pets may bother your allergies, animals that have long hair worsen allergies. 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.
Don’t be shocked if your allergen tests show positive reactions to several different allergens. Most people consume, inhale or touch allergens daily but they don’t experience allergic reactions. Some people have allergies for years without experiencing symptoms.
Ensure that your bathroom is well-ventilated to keep mold and mildew at bay. Moist, warm temperatures create a breeding ground for these common allergens. Always hang damp cloths and towels on bars, and make sure you run a fan following every shower. If you do not have a fan, crack a window to allow fresh air to circulate.
One cause of your allergies could be mold in your house. By regularly cleaning the seals of your freezer and refrigerator doors, you can greatly reduce the amount of mold in your kitchen and living areas. This part of your refrigerator collects water and over time, can produce mold. If you do not clean it on a regular basis, mold spores will fly through the air whenever the door is opened or closed.
Think about getting rid of your carpet. Carpet is known to collect dust mites, pollen and pet dander. If your house is carpeted, you may want to consider switching to laminate or hardwood floors instead. That can greatly reduce the amount of allergens you’re breathing in every day. If changing flooring is not an option, then be sure to vacuum every day.
If you have issues with allergies, consider getting rid of your wall-to-wall carpeting. Carpets typically gather lots of dust and hair, which are both common triggers of allergies. Making sure to replace carpet with hardwood, linoleum, tile or another other substance that doesn’t trap allergens will go a long way to ensuring a clean and healthy homestead.
You may have tried several different allergy remedies, and assumed incorrectly that there is no hope. While you have probably already tried basic orally-administered allergy medication, there are plenty of other anti-allergy weapons in the arsenal. 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.
Setting up your household kitchen to be allergy-free can reduce the risk of contaminating the food of the family member who suffers from allergies. By ridding your home of those foods which trigger your allergy symptoms, you can be sure that traces of these problematic foods do not contaminate cooking, serving or storage surfaces in your kitchen.
If your allergic reactions generally consist of the same mild symptoms every time, you may wish to focus on treating the symptoms as opposed to attempting to avoid a specific allergen altogether. So if you have dry eyes as an allergic reaction then carry eye drops on you. Someone with a scratchy throat might want to have lozenges at the ready.
Give stinging nettles a shot. This natural approach has been touted to relieve allergy symptoms in many people. Although the plant is an irritant to the skin, you can ingest the dried leaves in a pill form and that helps to calm the discomfort and itching.
Allergies happen to everyone and occur from many things, like foods and animals, but you know that already. Seasonal or chronic allergies are uncomfortable and irritating, but they are certainly not the end of the world. Apply the tips from the article above, and notice an improvement in your quality of life.
It should go without saying, but smoking is not conducive to reducing allergy symptoms. Allergies tend to make breathing very hard, as they clog sinus passages and your nose. Your body’s ability to breathe decreases with smoking. Many people are allergic to tobacco smoke. To reduce health problems as well as allergies, stay away from cigarettes and second-hand smoke.