Many people suffer from allergies to some degree, but not many realize how badly some peoples’ lives are impacted. Don’t let your triggers control you; learn how to manage your symptoms and breathe easy! Read this guide for strategies on how to effectively deal with your allergies the right way.
For safety’s sake, always test a new over-the-counter antihistamine at home. Most of these contain ingredients that could impair your reflexes and even make you drowsy. 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.
It is tempting to open windows to save on cooling costs when the sun is shining. However, this may not be such a good idea because it can cause your allergy symptoms to flare-up. Air conditioners with HEPA filters will help remove allergens from indoor air. You can breathe easier when you apply this simple change.
During warm weather months, you may wish to open your windows to keep the house at the right temperature. This could cause allergens to enter your home. For the best results, you can use a HEPA filter with your air conditioner, and that will decrease the allergens that circulate indoors. This might not feel quite as fresh but it will help you breathe easier.
While testing for allergies with skin tests are helpful to alert you to what allergies you have, it is very difficult to know how bad your allergic reaction is going to be towards those substances. For instance, you a test may reveal that you’re allergic to a specific spore. It may be that you suffer only very mild symptoms when the allergen is present, or you may suffer nothing whatsoever.
Drugstore shelves are packed with dozens of allergy medications and antihistamines, but no product provides relief in every single allergy sufferer. See if you can get some samples from your doctor or go out buy a small package to test it out. If that product doesn’t minimize your symptoms, then you can try the next one, and you won’t have wasted much money.
Think about getting rid of your carpet. Pollen and dust tends to gather on carpets. If you have the money, think about switching over to tile, laminate or wood floors instead of wall-to-wall carpeting. Changing to any of these materials can cause significant improvements in the cleanliness of the air in your home. Vacuum every day if this isn’t an option.
If you suffer from allergies, but you are wanting to have a pet anyways, you should try to have a pet with short fur. The truth is that any animal with hair has the potential to inflame your allergies, but the shorter the hair is, the less allergens you have to contend with. You also want to avoid sleeping with your pets if you don’t want to have an allergic reaction.
If you suffer from bronchial allergy symptoms, make sure you always keep yourself hydrated. When you are dehydrated, the membranes of your nose and throat can become dry and irritated. When the bronchial mucosa lack hydration, the mucus that is produced is very thick and difficult to expel.
If you frequently suffer from annoying allergy symptoms, be sure to keep track of the time of day! Pollen is out in full force between the hours of 5 and 10 a.m., so if at all possible, avoid going out during these times. If you have to go out, limit your activity to a short period of time.
If you’ve tried a couple allergy treatments without success, don’t give up. In addition to oral medications, there are many other forms that can offer a reprieve from your allergic symptoms. Just stop in at your local mega-mart and you’ll find a wide range of treatments like nasal sprays, Benadryl, different cough and eye drops, and other meds that are designed to treat all sorts of allergies.
If you are battling bronchial allergy symptoms, proper hydration is especially important. If you’re not consuming enough fluids, the mucosal membranes can get overly dry or even inflamed. Failure to hydrate can also cause the mucosal glands to secrete excess substances.
Natural Remedies
Natural remedies are available for those who are plagued by allergies. You will find that a lot of common allergy triggers have effective natural remedies associated with them that you can try. They can lessen your sneezing, itching, swelling and alleviate that runny nose in a more natural way.
Keep your windows closed. Anytime windows are open, pollen can start wreaking havoc on your health because of the allergens you let in. It is also important to clean your filters in your air conditioners and vents in order to keep allergens at bay.
If you have given the typical allergy remedies a try with no relief, do not give up so easily. There are more than just ingestible options for allergy sufferers. Just stop in at your local mega-mart and you’ll find a wide range of treatments like nasal sprays, Benadryl, different cough and eye drops, and other meds that are designed to treat all sorts of allergies.
If you have pets and allergies, you may not know if they are causing your allergy symptoms. In order to find out, have a doctor test you for an allergy to pet dander. You will not necessarily need to find a new home for your pet, though you might need to alter your arrangements somewhat.
A lot of those with allergies have gotten the suggestion to get a humidifier to moisten the airways as one sleeps. This procedure is not without potential drawbacks. Increasing the room’s humidity can encourage mustiness and the mold growth in fertile areas like the carpeting. Sporadic use of a saline spray is a better way to keep your nasal passages moist during the night.
If you were outside all day then you probably have some particles on your skin and clothes. Once you go back inside, take a shower to wash off the allergen particles. The water washes away any pollen, mold or other allergy causing irritants. Anytime you go outside, these irritants will settle on your hair, skin and clothing.
If your child has food sensitivities, be sure to have lots of safe food items on hand, particularly if you plan to be traveling abroad. Foods in foreign countries may not have clear ingredients labels. This may cause accidental ingestion of allergens such as soy, dairy, nuts and so on.
Allergies often result in post-nasal drip, leading to sore throats and other problems. You can add some warm water with some salt to a spoon and then gargle that to soothe your throat. This offers relief from soreness in a matter of moments.
Why waste another minute sniffling, sneezing, swelling and swearing at your allergies? Take this opportunity to move forward and explore your different options. If you can learn about all the choices you have, then you can learn the best way to prevent your allergies. You can master your allergies and start breathing easier once you try out some of the tips you’ve just read.