The best way to prevent an allergic reaction is to avoid the allergen that causes it. However, this is not always easy. Allergens, such as dust mites, can be hard to spot and can breed in even the cleanest house. It can also sometimes be difficult to avoid pets, particularly if they belong to friends and family.
Follow the advice below to avoid some of the most common allergens.
House dust mites
Dust mites are one of the biggest causes of allergies. Dust mites are microscopic insects that breed in household dust. Below are a number of ways that you can limit the amount of mites in your house:
- Choose wood or hard vinyl floor coverings instead of a carpet.
- Fit roller blinds that can be easily wiped clean.
- Clean cushions, soft toys, curtains and upholstered furniture regularly, either by washing or vacuuming.
- Use synthetic pillows and acrylic duvets instead of woollen blankets or feather bedding.
- Use a vacuum cleaner fitted with a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter, because it can remove more dust than ordinary vacuum cleaners.
- Wipe surfaces with a damp, clean cloth as dry dusting can spread the allergens further.
Concentrate your efforts on controlling dust mites in the areas of your home where you spend the most time, such as the bedroom and living room.
Pets
It is not the pet fur that causes an allergic reaction, but exposure to flakes of their dead skin, saliva and dried urine.
If you cannot permanently remove a pet from the house, you may find the following tips useful:
- Keep pets outside as much as possible or limit them to one room, preferably one without carpet.
- Do not allow pets in bedrooms.
- Wash pets at least one a fortnight.
- Groom dogs regularly outside.
- Wash all bedding and soft furnishings your pet has been on.
If you are visiting a friend or relative with a pet, ask them not to dust or vacuum on the day you are visiting, as this will stir up the allergens into the air. Taking an antihistamine medicine one hour before entering a pet-inhabited house can help reduce symptoms.
Pollen
Different plants and trees pollinate at different times of the year, so when you get allergic rhinitis will depend on what sort of pollen(s) you are allergic to. Typically, people are affected during the spring and summer months because this is the time of year when most trees and plants pollinate. To avoid exposure to pollen, you may find the following tips useful:
- Check weather reports for the pollen count and stay indoors when it is high.
- Avoid line-drying clothes and bedding when the pollen count is high.
- Wear wraparound sunglasses to protect your eyes from pollen.
- Keep doors and windows shut during mid-morning and early evening, when there is most pollen in the air.
- Shower, wash your hair and change your clothes after being outside.
- Avoid grassy areas, such as parks and fields.
- Get someone else to cut the grass for you if you have a lawn.
