Stopping Allergies Before They Start

A healthy immune systemdefine usually reserves its strongest ammunition for dangerous invaders, such as viruses and bacteria. But sometimes our fighting forces confuse the good guys with the bad. That’s the case with one of the most common immune disorders: allergies.

An allergic reaction is the immune system’s version of a panic attack – an extreme response to something that’s totally harmless. Hay fever, hives, asthma and anaphylaxis being the most common of allergic reactions, here are a few tips to avert them in the first place.

• Make sure that your house is well ventilated, including the under-floor areas. Shut the windows during high pollen times and turn on the air conditioning to clean, cool and dry the air. High humidity encourages the growth of modules and can attract cockroaches.

• Limit outdoor excursions when pollen and mould counts are high. Avoid long periods outdoors on windy days, when dust, mould and pollen are blown all over. Keep allergens out of your eyes by wearing wrap-around sunglasses.

• Holiday in low-allergen areas: The seashore is a good choice. Although the breeze is damp, levels of allergy causing pollen tend to be low.

• Shower, wash your hair and change your clothing, including your shoes, after being outside: It’s yet another way to exile outdoor allergens, which can easily collect on your skin, hair and clothing. If left unwashed, the allergens are then transferred to your daily routine matters.

• Get someone else to do the gardening: Gardening exposes to high levels of pollen and moulds. Have trees and bushes pruned regularly to cut down on vegetation near doors and windows. Don’t use leaf blowers. They spurt mould into the air at full force. Plant only trees and shrubs that produce small amounts of pollen.

• Keep indoor plants dry: Wet soil encourages mould growth. Top pots with small pebbles or stones to help avoid this.

• Encase the beds: Cover the mattress, box spring and pillows with allergen-proof covers to keep dust mites in check.

• Choose feathers: Synthetic fiber and foam pillows contain more dust mites and petdefine dander than feather filled pillows. The densely woven covers designed to keep the feathers in, also help to keep allergens out.

• Poll up the rugs: Dust mites can’t live on bare wood. If you must have carpeting, vacuum often.