Tips for Preventing Allergy Triggers

• Pay close attention to the circumstances surrounding your allergic reactions and/or your asthma attacks. Understanding and knowing what triggers these attacks is the first step to prevent and avoid future attacks.

• Once you know what your allergy triggers are, avoid them! Also avoid common triggers such as smoke if you have asthma.

• Check your local weather forecasts! They can provide you important, daily air quality and pollution reports as well as allergy and pollen count reports. Be prepared on days when these advisories are high by remembering to take your allergy and asthma medications and by staying indoors.

• Choose the right environment for you. Use air quality and pollution reports as well as allergy and pollen count reports as a tool everywhere you go. For example, during high pollen season in the spring, spend time at low pollen areas such as the beach or ocean. Avoid areas that are generally known for having high pollen counts such as woodlands. If you are traveling, check general statistics for the area and chose a time of the year when allergy and pollen reports are at their lowest.

• Clean your home!

• Temperature and Humidity: hot, humid houses are breeding grounds for dust mites and mold. Try and keep your home below 75 degrees and humidity levels between 30-50%. Don’t forget to replace or clean filters in cleaning or cooling systems and in air conditioners and air purifiers.
• Use an air purifier in your home, and don’t forget to change the filter.
• Get rid of the dust in your home. Clean it with water as much as possible since that traps the dust so it can’t fly, keeping it out of your nose. To protect your mattress and pillows from dust mites, purchase dust mite-zippered encasings from your local department or bedding store.
• Wash your laundry, especially bed linens in hot water with a temperature of 130 degrees or greater to reduce dust mites.
• Don’t dry your laundry outside since pollen can easily deposit or accumulate in your belongings.
• Don’t allow mold to grow in your home. Mold loves to grow in damp places, like your bathroom, so make sure these rooms are dry with plenty of ventilation. Or use a dehumidifier in these areas. Close doors or windows during hot weather and use air conditioning instead.
• Avoid harsh, chemical cleaners, as these may trigger allergies and asthma. Many common surface sprays contain toxic and dangerous chemicals! Try and use natural or naturally derived non toxic cleaning products.
• Vacuuming with a regular vacuum may make allergies and asthma worse by disturbing and blowing the dust particles in the air. Make sure your vacuum has a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter.
• Control infestations. Insect and mouse residue is allergy triggering, so make cockroaches as unwelcome as possible – seal any cracks or entryways. Thoroughly vacuum carpeting and steam clean carpets regularly if possible, as wet wash hard surfaces.

• If you are allergic to animal dander, you should keep your pets outdoors if possible, as much as possible. Or at least keep them out of your bedroom. Bathing your pet weekly, especially with a dander reducing or eliminating shampoo, will reduce dander accumulation and can reduce your exposure to allergens.

• Keep pollen outside! Change your clothing after spending a lot of time outdoors.

• Turn off the fan! Limit the use of window fans that can draw pollen rich into your home.

• Take a bath or shower before bedtime! Bathe or shower before bedtime to wash off pollen and outdoor mold spores that build up on your hair and/or skin.

• If you wear eye contacts, it’s not a good idea to wear them while you have red, swollen or itchy eyes (allergic conjunctivitis) because the contacts may irritate and cause the conjunctivitis to become worse. Instead, wear your glasses until your eyes feel better.

• Read your food labels! The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires food manufacturers to list common food allergens on food labels in simple terms that adults and older children can understand. If you are allergic to any foods, avoid them! While all possible food allergens may not be listed, the top 8 are listed:

• Milk
• Eggs
• Peanuts
• Tree nuts (such as almonds, cashews and walnuts)
• Fish
• Shellfish
• Soy
• Wheat

• If you eat our at restaurants often and have any food allergies make sure to double check that your allergens are not hidden in foods where you wouldn’t expect them. Inform your server of your known allergies.

• Avoid insect stings and potential reactions to bug bites and bee stings. When you’re in a buggy area, wear long sleeves, pants, and shoes with socks. Use bug repellant and do not wear perfumes or sweet scented products that would invite over insects.