Allergies affect people of all ages. They can be caused by seasonal factors in the environment, such as pollen from trees and elements in indoor environments such as dust mites, pet dander, molds, and the presence of cockroaches. Allergies can cause irritating symptoms, such as:
- Mild stuffiness that comes and goes
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Itchy eyes, nose, and throat
- Snoring
Fortunately, there are many ways to reduce you and your family’s exposure to common allergens. For outdoor allergens, avoid going outside when pollen, mold, and pollution counts are high. Avoid having household doors and windows kept open during these times.
Now let’s look at how to reduce indoor allergens:
- Wash bed linens, stuffed animals, and curtains in warm water at least once a week
- Mop floors at least once a week
- If removing carpets from your home isn’t possible, vacuum as often as possible
- Keeps pets off of carpet, furniture and out of bedrooms
- If you have a child with allergies and are a tobacco user, do not smoke inside your house or car
- To prevent/reduce the presence of insects inside the home keep your kitchen very clean, don’t leave food or drinks out
- If you must use pesticides, ensure that household members with asthma or allergies are not present when the pesticide is sprayed.
I know these steps take some work, but they are very effective at reducing irritating allergens.
If you feel like you are struggling with your allergy symptoms, speak to your primary care provider about a medical management plan that may work for you.
