Living with allergies to certain foods, environments and even medications can make life seem intolerable. However, you can ultimately choose to create a different ending to your story. Take control of your allergies by understanding the different types, how to avoid them, and daily measures to prevent them from occurring.

Types of Allergies

Airborne

The first type of sensitivity deals with airborne allergies. Examples of these allergies include pet dander, pollen from the environment, and even mold. Many people don’t find out they have allergies to pet dander until they start sneezing and coughing in the presence of certain animals. The usual culprits are often cats and dogs. Imagine leaving a house with animals you’re allergic to only to have itchy and watery eyes when you step foot outside. This could be caused by pollen in the environment. A simple passing of pollen in the wind from a fragrant flower could create nasal congestion.

Food

The second type of sensitivity is centered around food allergies. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, these eight foods cause most food allergy reactions:

• Milk
• Soy
• Eggs
• Wheat
• Peanuts
• Tree nuts
• Fish
• Shellfish

Of these foods, peanuts are the most common allergen. It’s important to note that 4.2 million children had food allergies in the US just five years ago. You can imagine how that number has grown since then. Those who have allergies as kids often keep them as adults if untreated. The good news is that there are ways to reverse these sensitivities.

Medications

The final type of susceptibility deals with allergies from medications. These are commonly referred to as drug allergies. This occurs in the body when your immune system has an abnormal reaction to a medication. The best way to tell if your body is rejecting a medication is if you have difficulty breathing or develop a fever. Penicillin allergy remains the most common drug allergy. You should always be careful what you put into your body, as it can have dire consequences on your health. A compromised immune system due to medication could wreak havoc on your body.

How to Avoid Allergies

Vacuum Cleaners

The first way you can avoid allergies is to keep your house clean, particularly your floor. Most houses or apartments have carpet, which absorbs odor, pet dander, and other particles that can irritate your allergies. With so many vacuums on the market today, it can be difficult to know which one will work best for your allergy issues. All you need is one vacuum with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air).

Air Purifier

Studies have shown that high-efficiency particulate air purifiers reduce the number of dust mites and matter in the air. As a result, it greatly improves most symptoms associated with allergic reactions. Sometimes, the air inside your home is more toxic than the air outside. Keeping your air ducts clean and investing in an air purifier will increase the quality of your indoor air. Because air purifiers are engineered to clean the air, it is the perfect complement to your allergy needs. You may not have total control of your outdoor air, but you can exercise power inside your home.

Healthy Immune System

Another way you can avoid allergies is to keep your immune system optimal. The fastest way to short your immune system is to eat unhealthy foods or take medications, to name a few. Both methods break down the body’s defenses and make you susceptible to a host of issues. Even alcohol can aggravate your immune system and produce excess mucus buildup. For an allergy sufferer who already has nasal congestion, more mucus buildup is certainly not going to help the situation. Ingesting Vitamin C, or citrus fruits like lemons or limes is a great start.

Daily Measures for Allergy Prevention

Exercise

When it comes to daily measures to prevent allergies, exercise is actually on the list. How? Exercising allows your body to be in a state of motion, which helps your lymphatic system operate at one-hundred percent. The lymphatic system is responsible for helping your body detox and moving toxins out of the body. Because the lymphatic system cannot pump lymph fluids to the rest of the body independently, it depends on the movement in your body.  In a state of exercise, your body can get rid of that pollen it just inhaled much faster than being in a state of rest.

Vitamin C

As already discussed briefly in this article, the daily intake of Vitamin C is paramount to allergy prevention and overall health. Not only does it boost your immunity, but it also reduces your risk of diseases. Foods that are rich in Vitamin C include broccoli, kale, papaya, kiwi, oranges, strawberries, and tomatoes just to name a few. There are so many natural sources of getting Vitamin C that you don’t have to pop a pill if you don’t want to. It’s always better to get your vitamins from food sources anyway. So make sure you stock up on foods that increase your Vitamin C levels.

Keep Nose Clean

Another daily measure you can take to prevent allergies is to keep your nose clean. Saline sinus rinse kits are popular and effective at keeping your nose free of unwanted agents. You can even stand over a pot of boiling water that has tea tree oil and Himalayan salt. The tea tree oil will get rid of the toxins your nose hairs could be holding on to. Combined with salt, they can keep your nasal passageways clear so you can avoid congestion.

Remove Pollen From Skin and Clothes

One of the best daily measures you can take is to remove pollen from your skin and clothes when you come from outside. If you keep your outside clothes on and sit on the couch, you could be inviting unwanted pollen into your home and on surfaces that you frequently use. Be sure to wash your hands and put your clothes right into the washer after being outdoors. Before you rest, make sure you wash your hair, as your follicles could hold on to pollen as well. The last thing you want to do is inhale pollen all night because it is all over your pillowcase.

Exercise Your Power

You can choose to fall in line with the 50 million Americans who suffer from allergies, or you can take control. Every decision you make in your life has a cause and affects you. The best thing you can do to take control of your allergies is to take care of your body.