Many people deal with allergies, especially those that strike during a specific season of the year. Rather than going through another season under the misery of your symptoms or trudging through an over-medicated fog, take control of your allergies. Read on to learn of ways to combat allergy symptoms.
Whenever possible, choose tile, linoleum, or hardwood floors over carpeting. Even with regular vacuuming, carpet traps dust, pollen, pet dander, and many other common allergens. Solid floor types are easier to keep clean and allergen-free. If you prefer the soft feeling of carpet, rugs can be used. Area rugs trap less irritants, are easier to keep clean, and less expensive to replace.
If you suffer from allergies and want a pet, consider one with short hair. All animals could bother someone’s allergies, but animals that have long hair could make it a lot worse. Also, to minimize the effects that pets can have on your allergies, never let them sleep in your bed.
Before you commit to allergy injections, understand that having these shots will not eliminate the allergy itself. Actually, these injections increase your body’s threshold. As a result, you can tolerate greater exposure to the allergen before you start to experience discomfort or an allergic reaction. A realistic idea of the results can help you to make the decision whether or not the procedure is worth it.
If allergies are causing your nose to drip constantly, you might experience chafing, redness and soreness around your nostrils. Using paper tissues to stop drips can make this condition even worse. Instead, discretely dab at your nose with a cotton cloth or handkerchief or apply Vaseline to your nostrils to protect your skin.
If you are extremely sensitive to weed pollens, there is a good chance that you may also be sensitive to certain foods. Consuming melons, bananas and chamomile may cross-react with weed pollens, resulting in a tingling, burning or scratchy feeling in the mouth and throat. Approach these foods with caution.
Many people who suffer from allergies have been advised to use humidifiers in their bedroom. This can actually be harmful, as humidifier mist will settle on carpeting and encourage mold growth. Because of this, you should consider trying a saline spray prior to going to bed in order to keep your nasal passages more moist.
Many doctors are more than willing to write prescriptions for the latest and greatest allergy medications, but some are utterly clueless about the high price tag. If you are having a hard time paying for these medications, ask for samples or contact the drug manufacturer to inquire about patient assistance programs.
If your allergy symptoms flare up frequently, you may want to think about getting allergy shots. These work by a physician injecting a small amount of allergen into your system over time. Eventually, your immune system will be able to fight off allergy attacks. These are usually given for 3 to 5 years.
Invest in hypoallergenic mattress pads and pillowcases. Regardless of how often you wash your sheets, without any protection, your pillows and mattresses are going to gather dust and other allergens. Hypoallergenic mattress pads and pillowcases act as an impenetrable barrier – keeping your bed a safe haven from your allergies.
If you have allergies, it is important to vacuum frequently. This reduces the amount of allergens that will be floating around your home. Inspect your vacuum. Older style vacuums can re-distribute allergens, releasing them back to the air. Newer vacuums help get rid of a lot of allergens in your home so think about investing into a new vacuum.
If you have indoor allergies as a result of dust and mold, you can minimize them by changing your environment. Do not put carpet on your floor, this can provide a hiding place for dust mites. Wash your bedding often. You can also use special pillow cases, which do not allow dust mites to hide in your pillows.
Purchasing a free-standing HEPA filter system can drastically reduce the amount of pet dander and other allergens in your home. For best results, clean the filter regularly and position the unit centrally within your home. This will effectively remove irritating substances more than the average air-conditioning unit. It may also save on your cooling costs.
If you’re allergic to dust, make sure to make your house uncomfortable for dust mites. Make sure that your surfaces are always clean, and get rid of unnecessary tchotchkes that you may have around the house that collect dust. Wipe down surfaces with water, or cleaners instead of using a duster. These can just kick up dirt, and cause an allergy attack.
To reduce your allergies, stay away from tobacco smoke and try to prevent guests from smoking in your home or car. If smoking is a habit of yours, consider quitting. Also consider avoiding wood burning stoves and fireplaces since the smoke they produce can be irritating.
Talk to your doctor and see if they have any recommendations about what could be causing you to have an allergic reaction. They might help you realize that you have been exposing yourself to a new environment that is causing your body to react in a certain way giving you allergies.
As you now know, many people are affected by allergies, whether as a result of mold, pollen, pet dander or otherwise. There are many ways to deal with all kinds of allergies – even very dramatic seasonal bouts. Just remember the advice from the above article so that you can live a life free of allergies.
