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Allergy Medications The medications that are used to control the symptoms skin allergic reaction of allergic rhinitis include decongestants, antihistamines and steroids. If symptoms are mild, you can use over the counter medications as needed. Avoid using topical decongestants (such as Afrin) for more than 3-5 days at a time or frequent use of over the counter allergy medicines with antihistamines, as they can cause drowsiness and poor performance in school. Prescription allergy medications include the newer, non-sedating antihistamines, such as Allergra, Claritin, Clarinex and Zyrtec (usual dose is 1-2 teaspoons or 1 pill once a day), and topical steroids, such as Nasonex, Flonase, and Nasacort (usual dose is 1-2 squirts in each nostril once each day). If your child's symptoms are well controlled, then you can decrease the dose of the nasal steroid that you are using for 1-2 weeks and then consider trying your child off of it and see how they do. Wash the cat weekly to help remove surface allergens. Allergy Assist Kittens take to regular bathing better than do older cats. Start slowly with a few drops of tepid insect bits water (soap is not necessary) on its fur and then progress to a full rinse. Reward the cat with treats - this might help. With temperature and seasonal fluctuations, there are few Hoosiers who have not experienced itching eyes, sneezing, nose & sinus drainage, and even shortness of breath--due to allergies. And, yes, allergies can also play a role in hearing and balance problems of the ear. First of all, what is an allergy? It is an over-reaction of the body to a non-toxic substance, the substance causing a reaction called an allergy. Allergies can be inhaled, ingested or picked up through skin contact. Some common causes of allergies are trees, grasses, ragweed, mold, dust mites and food products such as milk, wheat, corn, eggs, and yeast. Take it one step at a time and focus on the bedrooms first. If you plan on moving, allergy seasonal treatment pay close attention to steps that can be taken to allergy-proof prior to moving into the new house. It is much easier to put these ideas into action in the beginning than after everything is in place. It's really not as hard as it looks! Cleaning Tips Avoid ornate furniture. Plain, simple designs accumulate less dust. No open bookshelves; they are great dust-catchers. Keep all clothes in drawers or closets, never lying about the room. Enclose wool clothes in plastic zipper bags. Avoid mothballs, insect sprays, tar paper, or camphor. Keep drawers and closet doors closed. Remove as much clutter as possible to make cleaning easier. Place hard-to-clean items in closets, drawers, or display cabinets with glass doors. When choosing furnishings, it is best to go with wood, leather, vinyl, or rubberized canvas furniture and avoid upholstered pieces. Just focusing on the basics of a routine and thorough cleaning and temperature and humidity reduction can lead to fewer symptoms and a vastly improved quality of life. Sometimes, the opposite occurs. The allergy-proofing process becomes all consuming and inordinately expensive. Overpriced and often inefficient whole-house filtration devices are installed when simple cleaning and reduction of humidity and temperature would have been adequate. Clearly, there are situations in allergy immunology which extreme measures need to be undertaken. Before going down this path, however, it's best to consult with your doctor. Start with the easy things first. The next section will describe the best steps to take in allergy-proofing your home. Always take a calculated approach, stepping up the process as needed for certain problems. First, we will focus on the best ways to clean and in the second part, on the available technologies. Dealing with mold requires elbow grease, patience, and mold know-how. Do not give up; the effort is well worth it. Allergy Alert Greenhouses, antique shops, saunas, sleeping bags, summer cottages and hotel rooms are sources of increased mold exposure. Automobile air conditioners may harbor mold. Anti-mold Preparations Numerous cleaning products specializing in mold control are available. The active ingredients in these products that are effective against molds are bleach and ammonia. So why should you pay a premium for anti-mold preparations when you can readily prepare the mixture food allergy treatment at home for a fraction of the cost? As long as you are aware of the fabric fading effects and the potentially caustic nature of these cleaning materials, there should be no problems. The condition is frequently worse at night. One of the recommended treatments is mist or steam, which is best provided by a cool air humidifier. Vaporizers should be avoided due to the risk of burns. As previously noted, some central hot-air systems may include built-in humidifiers that can make the air more comfortable to breathe. However, there are definite problems with this type of system. Not only can these units blow mold spores and dust all through the air, but keeping these systems singulair allergy treatment mold and bacteria free is extremely difficult. Stand-alone humidifiers are available and are frequently used in homes with antiques or fine art that could be damaged from excessive dryness. They are often recommended for people with respiratory problems and eczema, which can be worsened by dryness. The truth is, though, that humidifiers tend to cause more problems than they solve. Allergy Alert A concern about electrostatic filters has been ozone production, which can make asthma worse. This hazard has been reduced by the addition of charcoal filters. Unfortunately, it is not clear whether the special filters available for home heating and air-conditioning units sinusitis are completely effective. Be sure to inquire about the particle size that the filter is guaranteed to trap. A minimum of 5 microns is recommended. At this point, it appears that of the two options, HEPA filtration is superior. Another option is the placement of individual filters over the outlet ducts themselves. These filters should be cleaned weekly and replaced as necessary. They are readily available from most allergy supply stores and catalogs and home hardware stores. Some forced-air heating systems come with built-in humidifiers. |
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