Over 50 million Americans experience allergies every year. While knowing you are not alone can bring some comfort, it does little to ease the discomfort associated with allergies.
Allergies are seasonal, environmental, or caused by the foods you consume. Fortunately, there are measures you can take to keep them at bay or to minimize their effect on your body.
Here are five tips on what to do.
Keep Your Windows Closed
This is a useful tip for people with a pollen allergy. Pollen is often more concentrated during the day than it is at night. As much as possible, let your windows be up during the day, both when driving and at your house. You can also consider installing pollen filters on your windows.
2. Wear a Mask
If you enjoy an evening walk or run, it’s possible to enjoy this and the health benefits without dealing with your allergies later on. The same goes for gardening.
If you intend to engage in these activities, ensure to have a mask on for the entire duration. An N95mask is the most recommended for this. Granted, this might take some getting used to in the beginning, but it will soon become second nature.
You will also appreciate feeling good after a run or gardening, rather than be down from your allergies.
3. Reevaluate Your Bedroom
You more than likely spend one-third of your entire life sleeping. If there are properties in your bedroom that you are allergic to, you will likely keep suffering from allergies.
Dust mites, pet dander, mildew, and dead skin cells can easily cause allergies or cause existing allergies to start acting up. Among the easiest ways to keep allergies at bay is by getting a hypoallergenic mattress. These can help by:
- Reducing the number of dust mites on your mattress
- Inhibiting the growth of mold and mildew
- Providing antibacterial properties
Aside from their role in helping you live allergy-free, these mattresses are also soft and very comfortable to lie in.
4. Ensure Hygiene
If you or a loved one is prone to allergies, a hygienic environment is key.
First off, build the habit of having indoor and outdoor clothes. When outside, clothes pick up pollen, dust, and so on. When you get home and stay in these clothes, you spread these particles to your couches, bed, and everywhere else you sit.
Instead, make showering the first thing all members of your household do when they come home. Before changing into a clean set of clothes.
The other thing that can be useful is ensuring to declutter every couple of months. What clutter does is collect dust, dirt, dander, and dust mites. These then cause allergies or exacerbate them.
One of the other things you can do periodically is decluttering your house and giving it a thorough clean. Good quality air helps keep allergies at bay and is great for your general health.
5. Premedicate With an Antihistamine
Talk to your doctor about giving you an antihistamine prescription – you can even use a RX coupon for this purchase. These come in handy when taken right before you leave the house if you have problems with dust and pollen.
This is a great option for people that find masks extremely uncomfortable.
If you suffer allergies at a certain time of year, talk to your doctor about beginning your medication right before the season starts. This way, the drugs get a chance to work before the season starts, and you have an easier time.
Don’t Let Allergies Bog You Down
With these tips, you can now be more proactive about your allergies. But the most important thing is to know your triggers and avoid situations that will cause contact with them. Allergies can’t be cured, but you can still enjoy life like everyone else.