Spring is around the corner, and with the warmer weather come runny noses, itchy eyes and sneezing for many seasonal allergy sufferers.
Allergens can be any substance, but the most common ones are dust, pollen, animal hair, animal dander, insect bites, grasses, molds and fungus, and even household cleaning products. The immune system views allergens as a threat to the body. When an allergen contacts a mucous membrane, inflammation occurs, due to the release of chemicals such as histamine. Symptoms include redness, itching, swelling and the increased secretion of thin, clear mucous.
Here are some tips to decrease allergic reactions.
1. Keep rooms free of dust and use an air purification system.
2. Avoid feather and down bedding.
3. Keep windows closed during times when the allergen is present in the air. Pollens are at highest concentrations between 5:00 and 10:00 am and lowest after it rains. Continue reading “Get a Head Start on Allergy Season”
