Allergies can be extremely irritating – literally and figuratively – and they can stop you from enjoying yourself and living life to the full.
Whether you have hayfever and are therefore allergic to pollen, or you’re allergic to animal dander, or it’s a food substance, or anything else at all, if you come into contact with something that your body has a reaction to, it can be annoying at best and dangerous at worst. If you want some better ways to take care of your allergies so that they don’t get in the way of your life so much, read on.
Take medication early
Depending on the type of allergy you have, you might be able to stop it early by taking your medication early. Hayfever is a prime example of this; start taking your medication before spring or summer (or whenever you usually start to develop symptoms) begins, and your body will have a chance to build up a level of tolerance which will hopefully make your symptoms less severe, and perhaps even remove them entirely.
At the very least, you should take your medication 30 minutes before you intend to go outside; if your symptoms have already started then it will take a while for the medication to get to work, and in the meantime, you’ll feel unwell. Try to have a good stock of medication in your home; get it through Benecard and you won’t run out at the most essential time.
Do lots of cleaning
If it’s dust that is your issue (and, to some extent, pollen at certain times of the year), then cleaning your house as much as possible will help to remove these allergens and reduce the reactions you have to them.
As well as cleaning, it’s a good idea to install wooden floors or tiles instead of carpets; the former are easier to clean, and won’t trap any dust and pollen particles in their fibers. When you’re cleaning, don’t forget all the nooks and crannies in the house where allergens can accumulate.
Your bedding is also an important element to wash regularly. You should wash it on the hottest setting you can at least once a week, otherwise you could be breathing in allergens all night and wonder why you’re feeling so unwell in the morning.
Speak to a doctor
If you know you’re allergic to something but you’ve never spoken to a doctor about it, you might be assuming there is nothing that can be done when in fact there are plenty of things that can help you. Only by speaking to an expert will you be able to know for sure. Plus, the more knowledge you have, the more prepared you can be when an allergy attack strikes.
Although you may never be cured of your allergies entirely, there are plenty of ways they can be less obstructive in your life. Ask questions, do research, but never try to self-medicate; this can be as dangerous as the allergies themselves.