Millions of people must deal with allergies. Allergies can be caused by foods, seasonal allergens, animals, and a number of other factors. If you have allergies, you no doubt want to find a way to lessen, or even eliminate, your symptoms. Read on to learn more about how to control the allergy symptoms that can take over your life.
Whenever you use a new OTC antihistamine, test it out at home first. Many of them contain ingredients that can make you drowsy or impair your reflexes. Make sure you stay inside when you first take your medications so you know how they affect you.
If you can avoid it, don’t use carpeting or rugs in your home. Keeping carpet spotless and clean is practically a lost cause; the fibers can house vast quantities of mites, pet dander, dust and other common allergens. Flooring that can be swept and easily mopped is best for allergy sufferers.
Test your reaction to first time over-the-counter allergy medications in your own home. These medications are known for having ingredients that can slow down your reaction time or even make you fall asleep. It’s always a good idea to try the medication out in a safe environment once or twice. Although the label may not include any dramatic warnings, you don’t want to find out that you react poorly to the medicine while you’re driving.
Shower from head to toe prior to climbing into bed for the evening. Pollen, dust, and mold spores can sit on your hair as well as on top of your skin, which can encourage allergies in your sleep. Simply wash yourself quickly, and you are sure to have a much better sleep.
Dust Mites
Dust mites are a very difficult allergen to control. These vile organisms thrive on dead skin as they burrow into your mattress and pillows. Disgusting! To fight this, you can put your mattress and pillow in a cover that is designed for your bed. Wash your bed linens in hot water once per week to kill dust mites, too.
Skin tests can help you figure out what you are allergic to, although they do not really help you understand how allergic you are to something. For instance, testing may show that you have an allergy to a particular spore. And, although you may not experience discomfort, it is possible to show mild symptoms after exposure to the allergen.
If you suffer with allergies and thinking about getting a pet, choose one that has short fur. All animals may bother one’s allergies, but animals with long hair make it even worse. Also, to minimize the effects that pets can have on your allergies, never let them sleep in your bed.
One way to reduce the amount of unwanted allergens in your home is to keep the windows closed. Pollen in the air may drift into your home through open windows, where it then aggravates your allergies. Check your filters often and clean your vents to prevent allergies.
Allergies are common and frustrating as well. If you happen to be an allergy sufferer, you are probably here because you seek some relief from these symptoms. This article has offered some information about allergies that you can use for the rest of your life. Take some time to review these tips and maybe, implement a few into your life and find a little relief from your allergy symptoms.
If you are unfortunate to suffer from allergies, you should track your conditions based on the time. Pollen is most oppressive between 5 and 10 o’clock in the morning, and therefore you should try not to be outside during that block of time. If you have to go out, do not do too much and make it fast.