Although many people suffer from seasonal allergies, there are those who suffer year-round from allergens, such as dust, mold, cats, dogs, fumes, or even food!
There are three basic steps in controlling your allergy. The first logical step is to avoid exposure to the allergen. Obviously, we can avoid medications that have cause an allergic reaction. However, avoiding ubiquitous dust might be more challenging!
The second step in controlling allergy symptoms is medication. You may want to discuss the right choice of an allergy medicine with your health care provider. Also, you may try some home remedies to alleviate your symptoms.
Sometimes the steps outlined above are not sufficient to bring relief to allergy symptoms, and immunotherapy (allergy shots) is necessary. Immunotherapy is effective for allergy symptoms caused by dust mites, pollen, mold spores, stinging insect venom, and occasionally animal dander.
To avoid house dust, you should take the following steps:
1. The biggest and closest to your body are these "dust collectors": your pillow and blankets. Use only washable pillows and blankets and wash them regularly!
2. Your mattress is also a big collector of dust and mold. Cover it with a plastic cover. For comfort, you may place a mattress pad on top (it needs to be washed regularly).
3. Regular dusting of bed frame and the whole house is needed.
4. Frequent vacuuming is crucial
5. Regularly clean/change furnace filters
6. Control house humidity (35-40% is ideal). Excess humidity promotes mold growth.
7. Remove all dust collectors from your bedroom: decorative pillows. Stuffed animals, heavy drapes, books
8. Do not allow your pet in the bedroom
Remember: On average you spend 30-50% of your day in your bedroom! So, keep it allergen free!
There are certain actions that you can take at home, to try to control or eliminate your allergy symptoms. Research shows that regular nasal washes with saline solution (you can use a saline nasal spray if pouring salty water up you sinuses does not seem appealing) not only moisturizes and cleans the nasal passages, but also decreases in the sinuses the extra blood flow that is responsible for congestion, thus relieving stuffiness. You can buy the saline solution at your local supermarket, or make your own by mixing 8 ounces of tap water with 1 tsp of sea salt. Use it in the morning and at night. Alos, taking a vitamin C supplement may help with overall nasal symptoms, because vitamin C tends to decrease release of histamine, one of the chemicals responsible for inflammation in allergic rhinitis. Antihistamines, such as Benadryl or Claritin available over-the-counter are effective in controlling symptoms of allergic rhinitis. However, be aware that allergy medications can make you drowsy. Know how your body responds to antihistamines before you operate machinery or drive your car! If Benadryl makes you too sleepy and Claritin does not seem to tackle your symptoms, talk to your physician or nurse practitioner, as there are other allergy medications available by prescription.
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