Sneezin' Season

Allergies are the immune system's incorrect response to a foreign substance and a very common medical issue affecting at least 2 out of every 10 Americans (more than 40 million). Allergies are caused by the body's response to what it has determined as alien. When a harmless substance such as dust, mold, or pollen is encountered by a person who is allergic to that substance, the immune system may react dramatically, by producing antibodies that "attack" the allergen (substances that produce allergic reactions). You can develop allergies at any time in your life, they could be genetic (parents) or caused by environment. Generally, allergies are more common in children, however, a first-time occurrence can happen at any age, or recur after many years of remission. Risk factors for allergy can be placed in two general categories, namely host and environmental factors. While your genes make you more vulnerable to an allergy, it's your environment that sets it all in motion.

Allergy symptoms can be categorized as mild, moderate, or severe, may include: Breathing problems, Burning, tearing, or itchy eyes, coughing, headache, itching of the nose, mouth, throat, runny nose and wheezing. Testing may be needed to determine if the symptoms are an actual allergy or caused by other problems. Although there are some differences, cold and allergy symptoms overlap quite a bit. . Allergic rhinitis can be a seasonal problem (commonly known as "hay fever" or pollen allergy) or a year-round problem (commonly known as perennial allergic rhinitis) which is more of a response to indoor allergens.

Conventional medical treatment for allergies usually consists of oral antihistamines, nasal steroid sprays, allergy shots, and Vitamin C. People with allergies know that these treatments don't work; at best, they provide temporary relief of symptoms and at worst, they create side effects which can be worse than the allergies themselves. While there are many treatments, it isn't always easy to find the right one for you. Allergies cost about $2 billion a year in treatment, tests, medications and allergy shots, and require millions of physician visits. Depending on the allergy trigger, the treatment needed to overcome the effects will vary, but avoidance is by far the best method of treating any allergy.

Many allergens are airborne particles such as dust mites (tiny bugs that live in house dust); mold spores; animal dander (flakes of scaly, dried skin, and dried saliva from your pets); and pollen from grass, ragweed, and trees. Dust mites are microscopic organisms that live in dust and in the fibers of household objects not frequently laundered, such as pillows, mattresses, carpet, upholstery they are one of the most common allergy and asthma triggers known. House dust is a mixture of potentially allergenic materials, including fibers from different fabrics, dander from animals, bacteria, mold or fungus spores, food particles, bits of plants, or other allergens.

If you're allergic to dust mites, dust, insecticides, pollen, cigarette smoke, pet dander, mold, etc. you'll need to reduce the overall allergen level in your environment by concentrating on all of the causes.

Simple things that you can do to reduce indoor allergens are:

Remove carpets or rugs from your room (hard floor surfaces don't collect dust as much as carpets do). Don't hang heavy drapes, and get rid of other items that allow dust to accumulate. It is crucial to use air purifiers to maintain clean air throughout the home. Clean frequently and thoroughly to remove dust and dander, washing articles such as couch covers and pillows, curtains, and pet beds. Bedrooms are the most important rooms in the house to be kept dust free. Investing in special Dust Mite covers for mattress and pillow can reduce dust mites (a major cause of allergies) up to 98 percent. Remember dust mites thrive in environments that are dark and humid.

It's true that allergies aren't life threatening, but they are quality of life-threatening on both physical and emotional level.