Living With & Managing Allergies

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• QWhat should I do if I have an allergy?

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  A Intermountain Registered Dietitians , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Intermountain Healthcare

  Allergies usually can't be cured, though some children outgrow them. There are things you can do to avoid or treat the symptoms. If you think you have an allergy, do these things:

  Visit your doctor or clinic. A doctor can help you know if you have an allergy. A doctor can also tell you how to ease symptoms. Sometimes a doctor will prescribe medicine or allergy shots.

  Stay away from things you are allergic to. This can ease your symptoms. Here are some ideas:

  • Pollen. Shower or bathe every night to wash off pollen. Avoid going outside on dry, windy days. Keep your windows and doors shut. Keep your lawn cut short. Change your furnace filters monthly.
  • Mold. If you have a mold problem in your house, remove whatever is moldy. Get rid of your swamp cooler or houseplants. Replace moldy drywall. Always use a cleaner with bleach to clean moist areas like the bathroom.
  • Dust mites. Get rid of your swamp cooler if you have one. Wash all bedding in very hot water once a week or more. Wipe down furniture with a damp cloth twice a month. Put filters over heat vents.
  • Animals. Don't stay in a house with a pet you are allergic to. If the pet is yours, keep it out of the bedroom. If your allergies are very bad, find another home for your pet. Some types of dogs, cats and other animals shed fewer allergens. If you must have a pet, ask about those types.
  • Medicine. If your doctor has prescribed medicine, take it as directed. Many helpful medicines don't need a doctor's prescription. You can buy them at a pharmacy or grocery store. Look for medicines that say "antihistamine." Some newer types of antihistamines don't make you sleepy and may be better to use. Ask your pharmacist to help you choose.
  • Nose sprays or eyedrops. Sometimes your doctor may suggest nose sprays or eyedrops to help your symptoms. Follow your doctor's directions for how to use these safely.

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• QWhat are some lifestyle factors that can make my allergy symptoms worse?

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  A HealthyWomen answered

  Here are five lifestyle factors that you may not be aware of that can make allergy symptoms, like sniffling, sneezing and watery eyes, worse.

  1. Bringing fruits, vegetables and household plants home. Fruits and veggies are thought of as being good for you, but considering that pollen and other plant-derived allergens are what cause seasonal allergies, it makes sense that bringing plants, ferns and flowers into your house could aggravate your sinuses. When it comes to household plants, ficus, yucca, ivy, palm, orchids and ferns are the most common causes of flare-ups.
  2. Not following doctor's orders. If you've been prescribed a medication for severe allergies, it's best to take it exactly as your doctor directs. Putting off starting your medication until late in the season when symptoms are in full swing or switching drugs or doses on your own may not produce the results you need, not to mention inadvertently putting more chemicals in your system than necessary.
  3. Having that evening cocktail. This is one trigger that you may not want to hear about, but drinks like beer and wine contain bacteria and yeast, microorganisms that produce histamines, which are known allergy triggers. Studies have shown that wine has the most profound effect, especially in women. Red wine has 20 percent to 200 percent more histamines than white wine. Further, pickled or yeast-containing foods, like cheese, bread or cider, can have a similar effect on allergy symptoms.
  4. Washing your laundry in cold water. Doing all of your laundry in cold water may leave behind dust mites or other allergens in your sheets, clothes and towels. You don’t have to do the entire wash on the hot cycle, but it may be best for items like bedding that tend to collect particles or for times when your allergy symptoms are at their worst. If you don't want to set your water temperature as high as 130°F, which kills dust mite eggs, you may alternatively use the hottest dryer setting.
  5. Hanging out with smokers. While cigarettes are a known trigger for people with sensitive sinuses or respiratory issues, you may also want to avoid hanging out very long with the people who smoke them. The harmful particles in tobacco smoke tend to stick to hair and clothing—hence the ever-present odor that smokers tend to carry—where they can be breathed in by you.

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• QWhat are some tips for dealing with allergies?

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  A NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital answered

  Every spring, millions of Americans dread the trip to the park, the playground, or participating in any of the myriad outdoor activities that trigger outdoor allergy symptoms.
  
  This season can be especially trying for children who suffer from allergies, as they and their parents struggle to participate in outdoor activities without triggering the sneezing, runny nose, eye irritation, or in some cases, asthma symptoms and hives that may occur.
  
  Grass and tree pollen, barbecue smoke, food allergies and even a typical bee sting can cause these reactions. Dr. Ronit Herzog, a pediatric allergy immunologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, offers the following strategies to help parents of allergy sufferers survive the winds of spring and summer:

  • Stay in an air-conditioned space. If you are allergic to pollen it is recommended to run the air conditioner as much as possible during the warm-weather months, because it can filter out large, airborne pollen particles. Remember to keep your windows closed and your air conditioner clean.
  • Cut back on morning activities. Pollen counts are usually highest in the early to mid-morning hours between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m., so minimizing early morning activities may help you get a jump start on a symptom-free day. Shower and shampoo after playing or working outside.
  • Avoid stinging insects. If you are allergic to bees you should avoid wearing brightly colored clothing, flower prints, or perfumes and lotions with flowery scents. Always wear shoes when walking in the grass, cover your body as much as possible when working outside, and don't forget to carry medication in case of an emergency.
  • Take medications. Eye drops, nose spray, and non-sedating antihistamine can relieve symptoms temporarily, and taking it an hour before exposure can decrease symptom severity.

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• QHow can cleaning my house help my allergies?

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  Your home is filled with free-floating allergens such as pet dander (skin flakes from your cats and dogs) that find their way into your nose, throat, and ear passages, causing a scratchy throat, watery eyes, sneezing, and congestion. Regular cleaning keeps allergens from building up.

  Dust, sweep, and vacuum at least once a week, including curtains, blinds and vents. Whenever possible, use HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters, which trap even the smallest microns of dust, as well as pet dander.

  Wear a dust mask when you clean to keep from breathing in the allergens you are trying to contain. Masks are cheap, and you can find them at your local drugstore or hardware store.

  Use a particle-trapping dust cloth instead of a feather duster. It will pick up the dust rather than just sending it in a flurry into your air.

  
  This content originally appeared on doctoroz.com
• QWhy should I tell my allergist about the medications I'm taking?

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  A Dr. Lawrence T. Chiaramonte, MD , Allergy & Immunology, answered

  Medications unrelated to allergy can exacerbate allergic problems. For example, blood pressure medicines can cause nasal congestion. So can birth control pills. Your teenage daughter may be on birth control pills, if not for contraceptive purposes then for regulating her periods or for her skin. Tell your allergist about any such drugs.
• QWhy do some antihistamines in allergy medicines make me sleepy?

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  A Dr. Lawrence T. Chiaramonte, MD , Allergy & Immunology, answered

  Antihistamines are distinguished by the fact that some make us sleepy and some don't. The ones that make us sleepy suppress both the histamine making us sneeze, and the histamine in the brain that keeps us awake. That is why some antihistamines can be used while driving and some cannot.
• QHow can I protect myself against allergens in my home?

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  A Dr. Lawrence T. Chiaramonte, MD , Allergy & Immunology, answered

  Because allergens are so important in causing asthma, the single most effective measure asthmatics can take is to reduce their exposure to allergens whenever possible. The most practical place to do this is in the home where the first goal should be to reduce dust levels in the bedroom. Many studies have demonstrated significant improvements in asthma after bedroom dust is removed. In fact, the bedroom should be as free as possible from all known and potential asthma triggers regardless of evidence of allergies.
  
  The biggest mistake patients make is to assume it is acceptable to sleep with their cat, or to continue using a feather pillow because they were told that they were not allergic. Denial plays a heavy part in the failure to take sound measures to reduce home allergens. We hear excuses like "my cat never bothered me before" or "I slept with a feather pillow before I developed asthma." But prior exposure is the essence of allergic disease. It may take a long period of exposure to allergens to make someone allergic, but having lived for long periods without symptoms does not mean the allergens are not causing problems.
  
  The same rules should be applied throughout the house. In addition, any source of indoor moisture can be a source of mold growth and should be eliminated. Mold spores can be effectively removed by regular ventilation and washing affected areas with household bleach.
  
  Indoor humidity should be maintained at 50 percent or lower by using air conditioning and dehumidifiers. Sump pumps should be used in damp or flooded basements.
• QHow can I keep my bedroom free of allergens?

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  A Dr. Lawrence T. Chiaramonte, MD , Allergy & Immunology, answered

  Keep your bedroom allergen-free by following these steps:
  
  Step 1. Pets -- Remove any furry or feathered animals from the bedroom, permanently. No pets should ever be in the bedroom, even when the patient is not there.
  
  Step 2. Bedding -- Discard any feather (or down) pillows or quilts. Use hypoallergenic (polyester) pillows and washable blankets. Blankets should be washed immediately and often to keep them dust free.
  
  Step 3. Heating and air-conditioning -- Forced-air ventilation is very bad for patients. Buy filter material (Vent-Gard or equivalent) and install in the bedroom air-inlet vent, so that all the air that enters the room is filtered. Wash or change this filter every month.
  
  Step 4. Humidifiers -- Do not use humidifiers of any kind. Increased humidity increases the growth of dust mites and molds and will make you worse. The most effective way to keep your air passages comfortable during the night is to keep the bedroom very cold (55 - 60 degrees F).
  
  Step 5. Plastic covers -- The bed must have plastic covers that completely encase any pillows, the mattress, and box spring. Do this even if the mattress and pillows are new.
  
  Step 6. Rugs -- Remove any rugs and carpets. Rugs trap dust whether they are wool or synthetics. Hardwood or vinyl floors are preferable but a washable throw rug can be used. If it is impossible to remove carpeting, vigorous vacuuming must be performed daily.
  
  Step 7. Vacuum cleaners -- Vacuum cleaners blow a lot of fine dust out the back. Purchase special allergen-proof vacuum cleaner bags. Special vacuum cleaners such as the Miele or Nilfisk work well, but are very expensive.
  
  Step 8. HEPA air purifiers -- HEPA air purifiers are very useful when there are allergens floating in the air in your bedroom, such as pet dander, mold spores, or cigarette smoke, or if you have forced-air ventilation. They can run all the time, but only when the door and windows are closed.
  
  Step 9. General clean up and other dust collectors -- Remove all upholstered furniture, drapes, old books and newspapers, and stuffed animals. Wooden or metal chairs and plain light curtains can be used. Clean the woodwork and floors to remove all traces of dust.
  
  Step 10. Regular cleaning -- The room must be cleaned daily and given a thorough and complete cleaning once a week. Clean the floors, furniture, tops of doors, window frames, sills, etc. with a damp cloth. Air the room thoroughly but keep the door of this room closed as much as possible.
• QIs there such a thing as an allergy-free room?

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  A Dr. Lawrence T. Chiaramonte, MD , Allergy & Immunology, answered

  When I was in training to be an allergist at a New York hospital, an industrialist who had allergies gave us the money to build an allergen-free room. He had used the new "clean room technology" in his business and was convinced he could treat allergy by putting asthmatics in this room. At best we got only mixed results. The asthmatics would live in this room for a few days. Allergens such as molds, mites, and foods were present even though the air was constantly filtered.