It’s always good to know some home treatments to combat allergies ; The first one is keep the house clean and free of dust.

If there are dust mites allergies, cover the mattress and pillows and use only synthetic pillows.

Screens on doors and windows will prevent insects flying in and stinging.

On windy days, if you are allergic to pollen, keeps the windows closed to prevent pollen from getting in and aggravating your eyes and nose. Especially between 10AM and 3Pm, that is when the pollen is at it’s highest.

Before turning on the heat the first time in winter, make sure you clean the heating ducts. They tend to collect dust during the summer months and activating the heating system without cleaning will cause the dust to fly all over the house.

Use a air purifier in the house, especially if you have small allergic children. It removes pollen, mold and other allergens from the air.

Use a humidifier to keep the air in the house moist. Dry air aggravates seasonal allergies.

Finding out what food causes an allergic reaction might take some work. Write down everything you or your child eats and note the difference in the reactions. With time you are bound to find which food it is.

If you have itching and hives on your skin – make sure you know what caused it, what plant exactly and get rid of it, or don’t go near it in the future.

If an allergic reaction did happen and the throat is sore – gargle with warm salt water.

Take an antihistamine when you feel the onset of Hay Fever.

Allergies are worse in wet weather. Prevent the formation of mold in bathrooms and basements, and get rid of it as soon as you find a wet spot. Bleach will help kill the mold.

If the allergic reaction is severe, if a difficulty in breathing develops or the face and throat and tongue start to swell or a skin infection develops go to the emergency room. The time it takes for a severe allergic reaction to develop is very short.

It is possible and not too difficult to live with allergy. All it takes is a little planning.

The most common of them all is allergy to pollen, or as it is called “Hay Fever”. It is a seasonal allergy most common in the spring and fall. Symptoms are watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose and nasal congestion. There are many over the counter medication that address this problem by administering anti histamine that blocks the body’s reaction to those normally not harmful substances. 

To prevent the appearance of the allergy in the first place, one has to avoid certain plants that are known as allergens by removing them from the immediate surrounding and staying indoors when the wind is blowing especially during the blooming season.

Dust mite Allergy is caused by those microscopic organisms that thrive in house dust and in the mattress one sleeps on. The symptoms are like those of the pollen allergy but they continue all year round. The same medications that helps pollen allergies might help the dust mite allergy.

To prevent the allergy from starting, it is advised to keep the house, especially the bedroom clear of dust, cover the mattress and pillows with dust covers and wash the sheets weekly in hot water. Stuffed animals, rugs and curtains also contain dust mites.

Mold allergy – mold is a fungi that has microscopic spores that get released to the air and breathed in by us. Mold can be found in bathrooms, basements and closets and needs the presence of humidity to thrive. The symptoms are similar to those of pollen allergy with the addition of a dry cough.

Animal dander – The saliva, oil glands and skin of certain animals cause an allergic reaction in some people. The symptoms are runny nose, itchy eyes and skin itch. Unfortunately the treatment and prevention of those kind of allergies requires the removal of the pet from the house. Medication might help but you’ll have to keep taking it all day every day.

Latex allergy – Those gloves used by doctors and nurses cause allergic reaction in some people. Symptoms can include watery eyes, skin rash, cough, wheezing and shortness of breath. They can be moderate to severe with hives developing and gastrointestinal problems. It is important for those people to wear a medical bracelet in case they will need an unexpected medical attention that can be aggravated by the use of latex gloves.

Environmental allergies are uncomfortable and annoying but the symptoms are usually mild. A twenty four hour antihistamine can solve the problem without too many side affects.