Are you tired of feeling lousy from the allergy medicine that was supposed to make you feel better? Have you ever wondered what side effects the allergy medicine might be causing in your body?
Dangerous short-term side effects include sleepiness, fatigue, disorientation, dizziness, anxiety and tremors. That's not all; they also include mouth infection, nasal burning, nosebleed, nausea, runny nose, hoarseness, headache, insomnia and hypertension. The side effects from the long-term use of allergy medicine are even scarier! They include blurred vision, cataracts, glaucoma, eye infections and inflammation, weakness in muscles, osteoporosis, and skin irritation and discoloration. Unless you specifically need allergy medicine for very sever symptoms, these side effects certainly seem worth avoiding!
If our immune system is sensitive to the allergens we inhale, it treats them as foreign objects and releases chemicals, including histamine in an attempt to protect the body. That's what causes the coughing, stuffy, runny sinuses, watery, swollen eyes, headache, and trouble breathing. Wouldn't it be better to avoid that misery with simple allergy prevention?
Allergens can be found indoors as well as outdoors. So let's look at those sources and then create some easy, manageable steps for the possibility of better long-term health (without the dangerous side effects of allergy medicine).
Indoor Allergens:
Dust is the breeding ground for dust mites. These microscopic organisms thrive on the proteins in flakes of dead skin from warm-blooded mammals and their droppings are allergens. They live in bedding, carpets, couches, rugs and even the air we breathe.
Mold favors humid areas like bathrooms, basements, leaky windows, damp drywall and damp carpets and rugs.
Pet dander contains protein, to which many people are allergic.
The droppings of cockroaches have a protein to which many people are allergic.
Outdoor Allergens:
Pollen is a common allergy offender that can come from weeds, grasses, flowers and trees. It is carried in the air we breathe.
Mold is stirred in the air when we rake leaves, mow the grass or stir up soil or mulch.
Animal dander becomes airborne and is inhaled while brushing or petting livestock and outdoor pets.
Now we have most common airborne allergens defined. So, let's look at a few easy steps to get you breathing easier, without the use of allergy medicines or their dangerous side effects.
Indoor Allergy Prevention:
Wear a dust mask when you are vacuuming, dusting and cleaning. This creates a barrier between the allergens and your nose, mouth and lungs. Better yet, get someone else to do the housework!
Use a HEPA filter vacuum and an allergy filter in your air conditioner.
Kill any cockroaches if you have them and leave the house when pesticide is present.
If your allergies are related to pet dander, you may need to keep your pet outside, if she can safely and comfortably live there. Wear your dust mask and after spending time with her, wash your hands, arms and mask and clothing.
If you identify large amounts of mold in your home, replace the affected surfaces. You may need to spend money to hire a professional, but keep in mind that your lungs, sinuses and health are priceless. If the mold is not extreme, washing with bleach water will usually kill it. Keep the area ventilated to avoid inhaling the bleach fumes.
Eliminate carpet and rugs, or clean them often. The fibers hold dust, mold, dander and odors. Allergens become airborne when we walk across the fibers.
Be sure to wash your bedding weekly at a minimum. Invest in an allergen-proof pillow and mattress cover.
Wash your hands often to avoid transferring allergens from surface areas to your eyes, nose, throat and lungs.
Outdoor Allergy Prevention:
Avoid days with high pollen counts. Your local weather station should have this information available.
When mowing grass, raking leaves or leaf blowing, wear your dust mask. I recommend using one that won't fog your glasses, so you don't trip and end up closer to those leaves!
Avoid digging in the garden soil or mulch, as they are full of mold spores. If you can't resist, at least protect your hands and face.
Be sure to change your clothes and put them in the washer immediately after working outside, so the allergens don't spread.
Wash your hands and arms to avoid spreading allergens to your mouth, nose and eyes.
Following these simple steps will allow you to breathe more easily and go a long way toward allergy prevention. Hopefully that will help you to avoid the allergy medicine and its dangerous side effects. Just imagine how great that will feel!
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