For many folks, spring is a euphoric time filled with blue skies, chirping birds and blooming flowers, but for others, it only brings itchy eyes and runny noses. This article will provide you with relief, if you happen to have allergies.
Shower before bed, taking special care to wash your hair thoroughly. Pollen, dust, and other allergens can get trapped on your skin and in your hair as you go through your day. If you normally shower in the morning, consider switching to an evening schedule. This will give you the chance to remove these irritants before bed, allowing you to have a restful night’s sleep.
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.
When the weather is nice, you may be tempted to open the windows in your home to save money on cooling costs. But, this could cause your allergies to act up. Make sure you use HEPA filters in your air conditioner because they help get rid of indoor allergens. Although it might not seem quite as fresh, it will help you breathe better.
While face masks may not be the most fashionable accessory available, wearing one outdoors on high pollen count days can spare you some of the discomfort of allergy symptoms. Masks are extremely cheap and can be purchased from home improvement centers or medical supply stores. Alternately, cover your nose and mouth with a bandana.
Getting rid of carpeting in your home can help your allergies because carpeting often traps a lot of allergens. Check under your carpeting and you may find that you have beautiful hard wood floors hiding underneath. You may like the look better and it will be better for your health and your family’s health.
If you have tried one or two allergy treatments with no relief, don’t give up just yet. In addition to the standard pill medications, your doctor has many other forms of medication to treat allergy symptoms. Over-the-counter products are available as eye drops or nasal sprays; prescription treatment options include leukotriene blockers and powerful steroid nasal sprays.
Try not to get too stressed out. Believe it or not, something as simple as stress can have a very negative impact and actually cause allergies to get worse. This holds true for those with asthma too. The higher their stress level, the more chances of an attack. Reducing stress won’t eliminate asthma, but it can cause attacks to become shorter and less frequent.
Up to 30 percent of people who suffer from seasonal allergies may also experience cross-sensitivity after ingesting certain foods. This leads to a tingling, burning or itchy sensation in the throat and may be a result of a reaction between these foods and pollen. If you are allergic to grass pollens, be wary of melons, oranges and tomatoes.
If you’re allergic to latex, be sure to avoid products containing it. Some things to avoid that you may not think of are latex bandages, condoms, clothing and latex gloves. Most of these items have alternatives, so try talking to a pharmacist to see where you can find them. Additionally, make sure that you read labels in case a product contains latex.
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.
Slow down. When you find yourself dealing with pet allergies, you may initially be distraught and think you have to give up a beloved pet. The truth is there are many ways to deal with this type of problem without losing your loved one. Talk to a medical professional to see what options you have.
Drink more water. Water thins secretions, so those people with allergies can experience a sense of relief by increasing the amount of water they take in every day. Most people don’t drink as much water as they should, but allergy sufferers should make every effort to drink the recommended, eight to ten glasses a day.
Do not panic if your allergy test shows many different positive reactions. Lots of people come in contact with allergens every day, but they don’t necessarily develop allergic reactions to them. Often, allergies can go on for years without being detected.
Allergies can seriously put a damper on you and harm the quality of your life. That doesn’t mean that there is nothing you can do about it. Treatments do exist that can obliterate or greatly reduce allergy symptoms. Use the tips this article has provided you with immediately.
