Do your allergies stop you from making the most of beautiful, sunny days? Although there are a lot of people suffering from allergies without taking action, you don’t have to be one of them. There are a number of different kinds of allergens that can cause a wide variety of allergy symptoms. Continue on to the article below and learn about ways you can effectively handle your allergy symptoms.
For safety’s sake, remember to use over-the-counter antihistamine when you are at home. Sometimes, they can make you tired and impair your reflexes. Even if the product packaging does not contain any warnings, you should take the first several doses when you aren’t having to drive or do anything dangerous.
Dust Mites
Just to be safe, you want to test any new over the counter antihistamines at home. A lot of them can cause you to be very sleepy and slow your reflexes. Even if the box doesn’t say it may cause drowsiness, test them at home where you can relax before driving while taking them.
Dust mites are very difficult to avoid. As the name implies, they are happy to live in pillows and mattresses, consuming dead skin particles. Eww! To fight them, encase your pillows and mattresses in specialized zippered covers and cases. Once you’ve done that, start washing your linens no less than once per week in hot water, as hot water is lethal to dust mites.
People are more sensitive to particular allergens at different stages of life. Babies can first show evidence of allergies when initially exposed to the proteins in foods. 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. Children who have never shown any indication of food allergies can, nonetheless, develop allergies to spores and pollen.
If you are going to be exercising outside during the times of the year that there are high pollen levels, do so either very early in the morning or late in the evening. Pollen levels are highest in the period between late morning and early evening; stay indoors during these times and you can avoid high concentrations of these allergens.
Ideally, your bathroom should be well-ventilated at all times as a precaution against mold and mildew. Mold and mildew thrive in damp environments. After your bath or shower, use an overhead exhaust fan to remove moisture from the air. Hang damp bath towels and cloths on a rack or bar. If you do not have a fan, crack a window to allow fresh air to circulate.
Tear out your carpeting. Carpeting is a magnet for allergens such as pollen, dust and dust mites. If carpeting is currently in your home and you have the finances to make a change, you may want to consider switching over to tile, wood, or laminate flooring. You’ll be amazed at the reduction of allergens in the air when you make this change. You will surely breathe easier! If you must live with wall-to-wall carpeting, run the vacuum cleaner every day.
Watch the clock to determine allergy patterns. For example, from 5 to 10 a.m. pollen levels are at their highest. If you have to go out, limit the time you are exposed.
If you’re traveling with your child who is allergic to some foods, bring safe foods with you, especially if you’re going to a foreign country. Sometimes, it is hard to find out all of the ingredients and preparation methods for certain foods, which increases the risk that they could contain nuts, soy, dairy, corn or other common food allergy triggers.
During seasons when the pollen count is high, be sure to exercise outdoors only in the very early morning or during the evening hours. It has been shown through numerous studies that pollen levels rise during mid day, but are lowest during the morning and early evening.
Hopefully now you can see that living a life with allergies and the symptoms that come along with them does not have to be so bothersome. Try out the suggestions and tips in this guide in order enjoy your life more as you deal with your allergies effectively.