The immune system releases histamines and other irritating substances in response to perfectly normal (and otherwise harmless) airborne particles like dust, mold, tree pollen, and animal dander (dandruff). Typical allergy symptoms include sneezing, nasal itching, and a dripping nose, along with congestion and red, swollen, itchy eyes. Whether or not you’ll develop an allergy is part genetics and part environment. A child with one allergic parent has about a 30 to 50% chance of getting allergies, while odds rise to approximately 60 to 80% if both parents have allergies. Also, exposure to a high level of allergens early on puts you at increased risk of developing allergic symptoms later. Women rarely develop new allergies after age 30 unless they are exposed to some new allergen such as a pet or a pollen. The good news is that allergies tend to subside at about age 55, says Edward O’Connell, MD, retired professor of pediatrics, allergy, and immunology at Mayo Medical School in Rochester, Minnesota. That’s because your immune system begins to decline, making it less likely to attack an invading mold spore or another allergen.[pagebreak]
Here’s how to keep your allergies in check:
Seal your mattress. One of the big problems with dust is dust mites, teeny creatures that live on dust, skin flakes, and other bits of microscopic household debris that collects in bedding, furniture, and curtains, says Rebecca Gruchalla, MD, PhD, professor of internal medicine and pediatrics and director of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. So zipping a plastic cover over your mattress is a good way of limiting dust mite exposure. Dr. Gruchalla also recommends putting duct tape on the mattress zipper, sealing off the escape route for dust mites. Dry up. Molds and dust mites thrive in warm, humid conditions. So to reduce mold and dust mite levels, keep a dehumidifier in your bedroom and one in your family room. Clean the dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers should be cleaned out every week. Otherwise, molds will proliferate. Use the exhaust fan. Whenever you take a shower, turn on the fan. A humid, unventilated bathroom makes mold worse, says Kathy L. Lampl, MD, instructor in the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. Simplify. Getting rid of dust mite havens, especially in your bedroom, is a sneeze-free way of coping, notes Dr. Lampl. “Have a clutter-free room with no fabrics or banners on the wall. You shouldn’t have carpeting, because vacuuming doesn’t clear the dust mites out.” Stuffed toys trap dust and should be removed. She also recommends frequent changing of sheets and regular washing of bed linens, pillows, and bedspreads. Watch out for dander. Taking some simple steps such as keeping pets out of your room, confining them to rooms that are uncarpeted, and bathing them weekly to wash the dander away might correct the problem. Lay off the latex. A study of more than 1,000 US Army dentists found that between 9 and 14% of people may be allergic to the latex found in gloves. Other studies found similar allergies to rubber products ranging from boots to condoms. The bottom line? If one brand gives you a rash, try another. Since manufacturers use different additives in their products, it may help to sample brands until you find one that doesn’t bother you.[pagebreak]
Treatment
Medicate. Two types of over-the-counter medication attack allergy symptoms. Antihistamines relieve sneezing, itching, and runny nose. And decongestants help unclog a stuffed-up nose. Some medicines combine both; read the label to find out what you need. “The big drawback of most antihistamines is that they can make you drowsy,” says Edward Philpot, MD, assistant clinical professor of medicine in the Department of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology at the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine. “If all you have is a stuffy nose, just take a decongestant.” Or if you need an antihistamine, try one of the newer non-drowsy antihistamines such as Allegra (available with a prescription) and Claritin (available without a prescription). If you’re unhappy with the effectiveness of one antihistamine, try different brands until you find one that works. Strike first. If you know the pollen count is high, or if you’re going to visit Aunt Jane and her hairy cat, take your medication before symptoms arrive. “It’s much more effective that way,” Dr. Philpot says. “It gives the antihistamine a jump on your allergies.” Make sure you take the medicine at least 30 minutes to an hour before you’re exposed to allergens. Avoid alcohol. Alcohol can worsen symptoms such as congestion, and mixing alcohol with antihistamines can cause serious health problems. Read the label on allergy medication before drinking anything. Consider shots. If your allergies resist every trick, you may need allergy shots. Doctors can inject you with small quantities of what you’re allergic to, helping your body build immunity to the allergen. This is usually a last resort, since you may need from 6 months to a year of weekly shots plus another shot each month for up to 5 years. “It takes a commitment,” Dr. Philpot says. “But it’s the only thing that helps some allergy sufferers.” Dr. Philpot recommends that you steer clear of corticosteroid injections, which he says can suppress your immune system and linger in your body. “They’re like using a bazooka to rid your house of termites,” he says. “You’ll get rid of the termites, but you’ll damage the house pretty badly too.” More from Prevention: 6 Surprising Seasonal Allergy Triggers
