Six smart ways to prevent allergies

Allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to something that is otherwise harmless. Different people react to different things in different ways. Our bodies may have a negative reaction to something that other people are comfortable eating or handling or being next to.

Things that trigger allergic reactions are referred to as allergens.  Although allergies are most common in children, they can occur at any time and any age. Some allergies are brief and seasonal, such as reactions to cold while others are permanent and recur throughout our lives.

The most popular allergens include foods, contact, weather, light and animal. You do not have to stress over reacting to allergens as there are ways to go around them. Ways in which you can prevent your immune system from overreacting to allergens include:

Avoidance

The best way to prevent an allergy reaction is avoiding the allergen responsible. If your allergy is food related, replace the food with its nutritional equals. The same applies for pets and contact. To avoid the allergen you must use past experiences with it to confirm if really it is the cause of your troubles. Jumping into fast conclusions may suggest the wrong allergen.

Use Medication

Once you have figured out what triggers your allergic reaction, you might get some prescription from your doctor. This medication will keep your immune system from going crazy whenever you come into contact with the allergen. This however should be taken in moderation to avoid overreliance on drugs.

Avoid mold spores

Most people have allergic reactions to pores found in moist places. This kind of reaction is usually characterized by sneezing whenever you breathe in air contaminated with these pores. You should therefore ensure all areas in your space are dry. This precaution extends to laundry since damp clothes are a ground for mold spores.

Launder beddings weekly

Dust mites eat skin cells shed by people and thrive in warm, humid environments like your bed. These microscopic creatures may cause you sneezing and sleepless nights. To avoid this, you should change and clean your beddings with hot water regularly.

Vacuum you upholstery often

While you may clean your carpet often to get rid of dust which may cause allergic reactions, leaving upholstery untouched may continue to give ground for this dust to settle. You might experience sneezing whenever you sit on your favorite sofa since it has accumulated fine dust despite its clean appearance. While cleaning upholstery doesn’t have to be too frequent, doing it might save you a lot of sneezing.

Beware of pets

Your favorite cat’s fur may be the reason you have allergic reactions. To avoid this, keep the pet away from areas you spend time at like your living room and your bedroom. This is because animal fur left all over your bed or sofa is enough to trigger a bad reaction. Also consider giving your pet regular baths to ensure they don’t harbor any allergens on them.