What are allergies and how to prevent them?

What is an allergy?

Allergies are caused when the immune system responds sensitively to a foreign particles.

Your immune system protects your body by reacting to invading particles such as bacteria and viruses. The substance causing allergies are called allergens.

Allergies usually last for a long time and occurs at the slightest exposure to the specific foreign particle the body can reacts against.

The immune system of the body makes antibodies against the invaders, and the resulting symptoms are called an allergic reaction.

In case of an allergic reaction, you will require assistance from an allergy clinic for immediate relief. Without medical intervention, your symptoms may worsen.

The symptoms of Allergies

There are many different symptoms to each type of allergy. However, there are also a few common symptoms that you may get in almost any kind of allergy.

These symptoms often make you uncomfortable and irritable. Watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose and rash are a few examples of common allergic symptoms.

There are many serious and often dangerous symptoms too. For example, breathing problems, throat swelling or other life threatening reactions including anaphylaxis are among the few serious symptoms.

Common sources of allergies include:

  • Latex
  • Mold
  • Pets
  • Pollen

Other major sources of allergies include the following:

Drugs

Common drugs that cause allergic reactions in some people are Antibiotics, Aspirin, Chemotherapy drugs, etc.

Food

Many people are allergic to dairy products such as milk and cheese. Other food allergies include Soy allergy, Tree nut allergy, etc.

Insects

Some people are allergic to insects that include bees, wasps, fire ants, fleas, mosquito, house flies, cockroach, and a lot more.

How to prevent Allergies?

Preventing allergic reactions can be tough, but it is better than sneezing all day. There are many different ways to prevent allergies.

Avoid sleeping with pets

It can be hard excluding the family dog or cat from sleeping on your bed. However, unless you are okay with walking around with a runny nose, it is advised that you avoid the pets. The pets’ skin, hair or fur and saliva serve as the allergens, causing severe allergic reactions.

Keep the Air Conditioner switched on

Air conditioners do a great job at keeping the pollen out of your house. Pollen usually enters the house through open windows, which brings us to our next point: keep the windows closed until afternoon. The amount of pollen is the highest during the mornings. If the pollen has already entered your house somehow, avoid using a fan. A fan will just spread the pollen around the room, making your allergic reaction worse. Air conditioners also reduce humidity, making it easier for people with allergic reactions to breathe properly.

Be careful about the houseplants

Despite how pretty these plants look in your living room, houseplants can cause very uncomfortable allergic reactions. There are mold spores in the wet dirt in the plant pot. Over-watering the plants can give birth to the mold.

Alternatively, you could use fake plants to decorate your house. However, sometimes they make things even worse. This is because fake plants collect a lot of dust on them, spreading more pollutants and allergens around the house.  In case your symptoms begin to worsen, make sure to reach out to your nearest allergy specialist Manassas. Fake plants collect a lot of dust on them, spreading more pollutants and allergens around the house.

Take off your shoes at the door

Your shoes are a great source of bringing pollutants and allergens into the house. It is recommended that you wipe your shoes on a mat and take them off at the door. Keep your shoes in the garage or laundry room. Bringing dirty shoes in your living room will spread the allergens around the house, causing an allergic reaction. In fact, leave your coats and hats at the door too. Your outerwear carries allergens too. Hanging them in the closet will only spread the pollen to the neighboring clothing items.