Living With An Allergy
by Kurtus Alamentio
http://www.allergye.com
An allergy is when the body reacts badly to a substance
called an allergen. The body responds by discharging
histamine and this can cause inflammation. This is why we
often take medicines or use creams which contain an anti-
histamine ingredient. Allergies provoke symptoms such as
rashes or itchy skin or swelling. They can also cause
coughing and difficulties breathing.
No one is safe from allergic reactions, though for many
they will only suffer from time to time. An unlucky few
will get adverse reactions year-round. Hay fever sufferers,
for example, are usually hit during summer or spring. There
are people who only get affected by the pollen that trees
give off - this only happens in Spring. Those who suffer
due to the pollen released by grasses will suffer through
summer.
Some people have allergic conditions such as dermatitis,
asthma and eczema whilst others are allergic to different
medications, foods, detergents, or their pets. The list is
almost endless.
It is worth the effort of tracking down the culprit if you
are an allergy sufferer, though it is not always easy. It
requires a small amount of detective work - maybe some
times of day are worse than others - take a note of
anything you notice. Outside or inside, at work or at home?
(Maybe you are allergic to work!)
A logbook or simple diary can be a useful aid. One of the
hardest things sort out is any allergic reactions to food -
you will need to keep a detailed food journal. Any symptoms
and their times should go in the journal - itchy around the
eyes only in the morning?
Our homes are full of potential allergens. If you have
pets, they may be the cause as many people are allergic to
the little bits of dry skin that animals deposit. The best
thing to do is to wash your pets regularly - cats are not
fond of this but you can wipe them thoroughly with a wet
cloth. You could try to keep them out of bedrooms or even
better keep them to one room only.
Hidden away in our carpets, cushions and bedding are
housemites. These are common allergens and it makes it a
smart move to get some air around the bedding - wash them
on a regular basis, too. Should you have carpets vacuum
them often.
If you or a loved one suffers from summer and spring
hayfever then keep the windows to the bedroom tightly
closed. This means you will need to air the bedding
elsewhere - another room with windows open but internal
doors shut. While we talk about bedding, go for manmade
(easy to wash and does not contain feathers, which trigger
some allergies).
If you establish that the culprit for an allergic reaction
in the family is dust particles then think about getting a
vacuum that is designed for the job of safely sucking up
dust - some types of cleaner just pull the dust up from the
carpet and dump it in the air! Otherwise a lightly wetted
cloth can work very well on furniture, capturing dust.
It is a good idea to avoid drying clothes indoors but if
you have no alternative try to keep the drying rooms well
ventilated. Houses that are steamy are unhealthy and can
also produce mildew on the window sills - this is also an
allergen. However, whilst it might seem a lot of work, all
these tips are good for a healthy home whether you have
allergies or not.
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