In North America, 90% of people’s time is spent outside, yet more than 50% of the population suffer from allergies! Clearly, this would indicate that a huge number of people either suffer from allergies terribly or have found a way of quelling their symptoms. The tips from this article can help you figure out how to live with and manage allergies.
Test your reaction to first time over-the-counter allergy medications in your own home. Most of these contain ingredients that could impair your reflexes and even make you drowsy. 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.
Nice weather often leads to open windows to let air circulate and lower air conditioning bills. Unfortunately, doing so could cause allergy problems. Instead, run your air conditioner outfitted with an allergen reducing HEPA filter. Although air conditioned air may not create as nice of a breeze, you will breathe easier.
Dust mites are everywhere. As the name implies, mites love to burrow in your mattress and pillows, feasting on your discarded skin cells! 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. Then, wash your bedding weekly in hot water, because hot water can kill dust mites.
If you want a cat or dog, but are allergic, find a pet with short fur. All animals may bother one’s allergies, but animals with long hair make it even worse. Additionally, do not have your pets sleep on your bed if you want to keep your allergies under control.
A plethora of allergy and antihistamine products are available over the counter, yet not all find relief from them. See if you can get some samples from your doctor or go out buy a small package to test it out. If one product doesn’t work, that doesn’t mean that none of them will.
Talk to your doctor if you’re at your wit’s end when it comes to dealing with your allergies. Doctors have access to medicines that are not available over the counter. The physician may also suggest something you’ve not tried yet and have other valuable advice for you.
If you discover pests like rodents or insects, make arrangements for professional extermination as soon as possible. Allergy symptoms can increase if you are exposed to rodent droppings. Hire an exterminator to remove these problems and clear your air.
Clean your bathroom. Bathrooms can serve as mold incubators and must be cleaned no less than weekly. Use a bleach and water mixture to wipe all wall surfaces and eliminate mold. This also stops new mold from growing, which could make your allergies even worse.
If possible, avoid using styling products on your hair during allergy season. Styling products help catch allergens in your hair that cause allergies. However, these styling products are notorious pollen magnets and can turn your tresses into an allergen free-for-all.
Spending any amount of time outdoors can lead to an accumulation of airborne allergies on your hair, skin and clothing. If possible, take a shower before you go to bed; the sooner, the better. Water will eliminate pollen, mold, and other irritants from your body. Your hair and your skin are both susceptible to accumulating these sorts of allergens.
After being tested for allergies, you may find that the test was positive for certain things that you may not have visible symptoms for. This is normal. It is possible to come into regular contact with a specific allergen, yet never encounter a noticeable allergic reaction. Sometimes, allergies are not discovered for years.
Make your surroundings as clean as you can. It’s very common for people to be allergic to multiple things, and getting rid of any and all allergens in your home will make it easier to deal with the things you know you’re allergic to. Endeavor to clean your surroundings with great frequency.
As mentioned at the start of this article, most Americans spend a lot of time outdoors even though more than half of us suffer from some kind of allergy. With any luck, this article should have given you advice on how to deal with any kind of common allergy so that you can live a better life.