Among the leading chronic illness afflicting the US population, allergies rank way up at number 5! If you are one of the many Americans suffering through the dreaded symptoms of allergies, read on! This article will offer you sound advice on controlling and overcoming allergies, so that you can move on to better things.

If you have allergies, it is important that you keep the humidity in your home to a minimum. You can do this by setting up a dehumidifier in whichever rooms you are frequently in. One of the worse things for an allergy sufferer is humidity, so stay away from it as much as you can.

Treating your allergic symptoms for the first time with antihistamine’s prescription or over the counter is best to approach it cautiously. Many of these products are notorious for causing severe drowsiness; there is no way to determine how your body will respond. With this in mind, you should take the first dose at home to avoid safety mishaps or impairments.

You may have installed wood, laminate or tile flooring to reduce allergens in your home, but if you use throw rugs, they need to be laundered weekly in warm, soapy water to keep them free from dust, pollen and other allergy culprits. If they aren’t machine washable, have them dry-cleaned frequently. It will be worth the cost!

If you continue to have allergy symptoms, keep track of the time. Between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m., pollen levels are at their highest; it is best to stay indoors during this period. If you have to go out, do not do too much and make your trip quick.

Many people do not realize they might be exposing themselves to increased allergens just, by the way, they dry their clothes. If you suffer from allergic reactions to pollen, then hanging your clothes outdoors to dry can cause allergic reactions. When the clothes hang, they collect all the pollen that is blown in the breeze while drying.

Try to keep your indoor air as allergen free as possible. It might be tempting to open a window to let the fresh air in, however, when you do this you let the pollen into your home. So keep your windows shut. Also, be sure to change the filters on your air conditioner quite often.

Remove houseplants from your home. Houseplants can be a breeding ground for mold that triggers allergies. If you must have houseplants in your home, remove any leaves that have mold on them. You should also be sure that you avoid letting water sit in the tray after watering your plants.

Avoid getting any pets. Pet dander and hair can trigger allergic reactions. If you have a pet, you should brush them at least one time a week to remove any excess hair or dander. You should brush them outside to avoid causing any buildup of dander or hair in your home.

If you have allergies, one hidden danger to you may be the damp areas of your home. Places like basements and garages will harbor mold and instigate attacks, so either avoid these areas during the damp season, or see that they are thoroughly cleaned with a simple solution of bleach and water.

Do not have a lot of plants in your home if you suffer from allergies. Not only do many plants trigger allergy symptoms, but they also tend to collect a lot of dust and could even develop mold. If you want to have plants, keep them in an outdoor garden and wear a mask when caring for them.

You can reduce your exposure to allergens by, being paying close attention to the weather. You can do your outside chores, and activities on days that have lower pollen counts such as overcast, rainy or humid days. Pollen is released by plants at dawn, and the count is higher on dry, warm mornings. The count can peak at midday, and stay high on a warm, and breezy day well into the evening.

Keep yourself warm in the winter. Although many people suffer from allergies in warm months, a lot of people still have problems in the winter. A great idea is to bundle-up and cover your nose and mouth so that the air you breathe is warm. That can help you avoid allergy attacks in the winter.

Do not forget that many furniture pieces can be allergy triggers. Sofas and chairs can develop dust mites, which may bother your allergy symptoms. To eliminate this problem, but a plastic covering over your furniture. If you don’t want to do this, you could sprinkle dust mite killing powder over your furniture.

Hopefully, this article has provided you with some very helpful tips and tricks on controlling allergies and all the accompanying symptoms. With so many sufferers, it’s a wonder they have not found a cure yet, but until they do, you have the useful advice you have read here to rely on.

Fight Your Allergies With These Helpful Tips was originally published on Spring