Allergies - Common Causes

There are many different types of allergies. There are food allergies, latex allergies, hay fever, sinusitis, and nasal allergies, along with chronic allergies, which can be affected by non-allergic irritants such as extreme temperatures or smoke. Chronic and nasal allergies are probably the most common of all allergies. Following are some tips for detecting, treating, and eradicating allergies.

• A person with nasal allergies often has a runny nose with watery, clear mucus. They will also experience itchy eyes, nose, throat, and ears, along with eye redness, watering and continual sneezing.
  
  
• There are several ways to treat nasal allergies, which include antihistamines, allergy shots, nasal sprays, and a healthy amount of Vitamin C. Antihistamines control sneezing and coughing, while decongesting your sinuses. Nasal sprays control serious, persistent symptoms on a daily basis. Allergy shots are only used for people who have constant and severe allergic reactions, whereas Vitamin C can be found from many common sources and has natural antihistamine effects.
  
  
• Many store bought, non-prescription medicines for allergies contain a small amount of pseudoephedrine, a potent decongestant and stimulant. Be aware that many of these over the counter allergy medications may make you nervous, restless, or unable to sleep. They can also raise your heart rate and elevate blood pressure, so use caution. Never take more than the recommended dosage. Long term use of nasal sprays can cause worsened congestion.
  
  
• Immunotherapy is a process in which your doctor exposes your body to a little bit of an irritating allergen at a time. A person in immunotherapy is given a shot of the specific allergens that have targeted them over a course of about four years. The amount of allergens you are exposed to is increased with every shot and eventually your system becomes immune to it.

If you suffer from serious allergies which seem to get worse when you are inside your house, you may be dealing with the number one cause of allergies - mould. If you go through the back closets and check the area above your shower or along the grouting of your tub, you may see the black slime commonly associated with mould. This can be eradicated with a strong solution of bleach and water, but that may just be surface mould. If it doesn't seem to help, consider having your home inspected for mould.

Bathroom mould is often caused by simply leaving too much moisture in the air after showers, and can be eliminated through buying a ceiling fan.

The mould in the closet may be an indication of further mould in the home, and a sample can be sent to a lab for confirmation. This is a much less invasive process than having a mould inspector come in, and should be the first action you take. Mould inspectors can be sketchy, though, so be sure you check out credentials and hire a reputable firm if you feel you will need extensive mould removal.

Another common cause of home related allergies is the family pet. Be sure you find out from your allergist through testing if Fido or kitty is the cause before giving away your pet.

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