Author:
John Stephens
Date Of Creation:
24 January 2021
Update Date:
2 July 2024
Content
Warm weather is ideal for outdoor activities, but for many, it's also a sign of the onset of allergy symptoms. To prepare for allergy season, you should see your doctor to discuss a plan of action. Your doctor may perform skin tests to identify allergenic factors and make recommendations based on the results. You can also clean your home to get rid of allergens, take steps to reduce outdoor allergen exposure, and make adjustments to your diet and lifestyle. By preparing yourself in advance, you will be less stressed when the allergy season comes.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Get help
Talk to your doctor about allergy medications. If worrying about your body's response to allergens or symptoms of allergies makes you uncomfortable, see your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor can prescribe medications to help you cope with the upcoming allergy season.
- There are many over-the-counter (OTC) medications available to treat allergies, but it's best to talk to your doctor about the symptoms you experience first. Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter or prescription stronger medications if needed.
- Your doctor may refer you to see an allergist for an anti-allergy injection, making you less susceptible to allergens for many years. This is a long-term treatment.
Skin test required. There are many allergens that can cause allergy symptoms. If you're not sure what you're allergic to, a skin test is the best way. You should ask your doctor for a skin test to identify allergens.
Ask your doctor about corticosteroid nasal sprays. If the OTC nasal spray doesn't help relieve congestion during allergy season, talk to your doctor about a prescription corticosteroid nasal spray. These are much more powerful and help relieve congestion if the other nasal sprays aren't working enough.
Consider acupuncture to treat allergies. If you don't want medication or if it doesn't work, consider acupuncture. Many studies have shown that acupuncture is an effective approach to treating allergies. advertisement
Method 2 of 4: Home preparation
Wear a mask when cleaning. If you are allergic to dust, you should wear a medical mask to avoid breathing dust and other fine particles when cleaning your home. Medical masks are available in most major pharmacies and department stores.
Change pillow covers and sheets often. To reduce the amount of dust mites in your sheets, change and wash your sheets once a week. Wash bedding and pillowcases in hot water at 54 ° C or higher. Use synthetic sheets instead of wool to reduce allergens.
Vacuum once a week. Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to vacuum dust on floors and carpets. Vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters help to remove a variety of allergens, which in turn can improve allergy symptoms. For carpets, take a steam bath, especially if you have pets at home.
- Do not forget to move the interior of the house to vacuum in these locations.
Clean windows and screens. Screen doors can accumulate a lot of dirt and other particles, including allergens. You should also wipe off any mold or dirt that builds up on window sills.
- During allergy season, keep windows and doors closed to reduce allergens entering your home. You can turn on the air conditioner to cool the air in the room.
Use an air purifier that uses an ion generating system. Ozone (O3) destroys many types of fungi, mold, and toxic bacteria in high concentrations. Since the air cannot be completely filtered, it is better to use a filter that absorbs negatively charged ions (most allergens) instead of absorbing O3 gas.
- There are many air purifiers with UV systems that are effective at killing mold.
Clean up wet areas where there are ideal conditions for mold growth. Clean the bathroom and kitchen as these are areas prone to mold. There are several ways to clean these areas, for example by using:
- Pure white vinegar. Pour vinegar into a spray bottle and spray it in damp, warm, and dark places where mold may appear. Leave for about 15-30 minutes and then wipe clean.
- A 1: 9 solution of bleach and water. Spray the solution on an area where mold is likely to appear and let it sit for 15-30 minutes before wiping it off.
- A mixture of tea tree oil and water. Mix 30 ml of tea tree oil with 2 cups of warm water and shake well. Spray the mixture on an area where mold is likely to appear and let it sit for 15-30 minutes before wiping it off. You can mix tea tree oil with carpet cleaning chemical in the proportion of 30 ml tea tree oil and 3800 ml of chemicals.
Clean cupboards and wardrobes. Cup cabinets and wardrobes are ideal places for mold. You should check under the sink for leaks and mold underneath. Clean and filter the air in these areas.
- Wash all clothes in the closet. It is advisable to air-dry the clothes instead of the cord. Use a wet paper towel to wipe all shoes.
Method 3 of 4: Limit outdoor allergen exposure
Sign up for the allergy alert email or look to determine the amount of pollen in your area. You can sign up for email alerts or use your local pollen counter to find out when not to go out. This will help you determine which days are best for outdoor activities.
Stay indoors between 5 and 10 a.m. This is the time when the pollen count reaches the highest level. Because pollen causes many different types of allergies, avoiding being outside between 5 and 10 a.m. will help relieve symptoms.
- Stay indoors on warm, dry mornings and on windy days. Pollen count is also high during these days.
- Go outside after it rains. The best time to go outside is after the rain. Rain helps to "wash away" pollen, so the risk of an allergic reaction is also lower.
Take care to limit exposure to allergens when required to be outdoors. In some situations, you cannot avoid being outside during allergy season. There are many ways to limit allergen exposure when outdoors.
- If the allergy is severe, you should wear a medical mask to avoid inhaling the allergen.
- Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from allergens.
- Wear a hat to avoid allergens getting in your hair.
Change clothes before entering the house. After spending time outdoors, change and wash your clothes immediately to reduce the amount of allergens you bring into your home. After that, shower thoroughly and put on new, clean clothes. advertisement
Method 4 of 4: Adjusting diet and lifestyle
Increase your intake of flavonoid-rich foods. Flavonoid-rich foods have anti-inflammatory properties, making them very useful in case of allergies. In addition, they are rich in quercetin and rutin - natural antihistamines. Flavonoid-rich foods include:
- Berry
- Red bell peppers
- Fruits of the Orange family
- Banana
- pear
- Apple
- Onion
- Almond
- Green vegetables
- Olive oil
- Almond
- Green tea
- Herbal teas like parsley, sage, and nettle tea
Take immune-boosting supplements. Some naturopaths believe that a weakened immune system makes the body more susceptible to allergens. Therefore, you should incorporate a daily supplement into your diet to boost your immune system.
- Use multivitamins. Find and buy a multivitamin to take every day, with meals.
- Add probiotics to your diet. You can eat a single carton of yogurt (containing raw yeast) per day or take a probiotic supplement.
- Supplement with vitamin C. Vitamin C is another antioxidant that helps reduce allergic reactions to allergens.
- Supplement with omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory that may help reduce allergy symptoms.
Consider using herbal teas or supplements. There are different herbs that can help prepare you for allergy season and reduce your symptoms for allergy. First of all, you need to talk to a health care professional who specializes in herbs, especially if you are taking medications, including antihistamines. Herbs can increase or decrease the effectiveness of certain medications, so it's best to consult your doctor first.
- Dong quai (Angelica sinensis)
- Eyebright (lice grass or Euphrasia officinalis) - especially for allergic reactions affecting the eyes
- Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)
- Quercetin and rutin can be taken as supplements, usually 6-8 weeks before allergy season. Do not use quercetin or rutin if you have liver disease.
Exercise in moderation. Exercising for 30 minutes, 3-4 times per week has been shown to be effective in reducing allergies. Exercise indoors on pollen-rich days, and be careful to limit allergen exposure on outdoor exercise days.
- Swimming in chlorinated pool water can make allergies worse.
- “Listen to” the body and be alert for symptoms of an allergy. In some cases, exercise can cause allergies and asthma attacks.
Advice
- Use a neti bottle to clean your nose. Neti flasks contain aqueous saline solution to help reduce mucus build up due to allergies.
- Seasonal allergies are common in young children and develop after 2 years of age.
