Dealing with Allergies
Some Ways to Deal with Allergies

Allergies are caused by reactions in your immune system in response to things—like pollen, dust, food, or animals—that are harmless to most people. Your immune system mistakenly attempts to protect your body from whatever it’s allergic to by producing antibodies that trigger reactions in your eyes, nose, lungs, and skin. Sometimes, avoiding certain allergies can be a matter of life or death, as with food allergies. In other cases, avoidance can help protect you against chemical or non-food allergies. Eliminating exposure to an allergen (that is, the thing that triggers your allergies) can prevent allergy symptoms from occurring. Below are a few tips to help you stay away from airborne allergens:

-Confine family pets to certain rooms and keep them away from your bedroom. Bathe your pets more often if necessary.
-Consider installing wood floors in your house—carpets and rugs collect much more dust.
-Avoid hanging heavy drapes in the windows, and allow other similar fabrics that might collect dust.
-Vacuum, dust, and clean regularly and frequently.
-If you are allergic to dust mites, buy special covers to protect pillows and mattresses.
-If you are allergic to pollen, keep windows closed during pollen season, make sure to change your clothes if you were outdoors for a long time, and avoid mowing lawns.
-Keep away from damp areas (such as basements and cellars) if you have a mold allergy. Prevent high-moisture places such as bathrooms and kitchens from getting mold by keeping them clean and dry.

Other Allergies

If you are allergic to a certain kind of food, you must avoid foods that trigger your symptoms. Learn to read food labels with care to make sure you are not eating something that contains allergens. Most labels now come with information about whether the food was prepared with equipment that came in contact with another kind of food. This is important if your allergies are particularly sensitive.

If you have environmental allergies, remember to keep your house clean of dust. Switching to products that are perfume and dye-free may also help. Remember—hypoallergenic means that a product contains only non-allergenic ingredients.

Many people with allergies also take some form of medication. Follow the directions carefully to make sure you receive the full benefit from that medication.

If you have a severe, life-threatening allergy, consider wearing or carrying a medical ID that explains your allergy.

You’re Not Alone

If you are diagnosed with allergies, remember that you’re not alone. The National Institutes of Health report that over 50 million Americans are affected by allergies. Doctors and scientists are constantly working to develop new technologies, methods, and treatments help combat allergic diseases.