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Medicines
help treat allergy symptoms once they strike, but there
are several steps you can take to prevent symptoms altogether.
The following recommendations can help you avoid allergy
triggers whether you're at home, outdoors, or out on
the town.
At
Home
Keep
windows closed and use air conditioning if you're allergic
to pollen. Don't use fans since they can stir up dust.
Filter the air. Cover air conditioning vents with cheesecloth
to filter pollen and use a high efficiency particulate
air filter (HEPA) if you have a forced air furnace.
Clean air filters frequently and air ducts at least
once a year.
Keep the humidity in your house below 50% to prevent
mold growth.
If you have pets, consider keeping them outside or perhaps
ask someone else to take care of them. Animal dander
and saliva are common allergens for many people. If
you must keep your pets indoors, do not allow them in
the bedroom and be sure to bathe them often.
Avoid areas where molds may collect, including basements,
garages, crawl spaces, barns, and compost heaps. Have
someone else clean these areas often.
Install dehumidifiers or steam vaporizers in basements
and other areas of the house where molds tend to collect.
Clean these devices every week.
Air out damp clothes and shoes (in the house) before
storing.
Remove laundry from the washing machine promptly. Don't
leave wet clothes in the washer where mold can quickly
grow.
Wash shower curtains and bathroom tiles with mold-killing
solutions.
Don't collect too many indoor plants as soil encourages
mold growth.
Store firewood outside.
Use plastic covers for pillows, mattresses, and box
springs. Avoid overstuffed furniture and down-filled
bedding or pillows.
Wash your bedding every week in hot water.
Don't allow smoking in your house.
Wear a mask and gloves when cleaning, vacuuming, or
painting to limit dust and chemical exposure.
Vacuum twice a week.
Limit throw rugs to reduce dust and mold. If you do
have rugs, make sure they are washable.
When possible, choose hardwood floors instead of carpeting.
If you must have carpeting, choose low-pile material.
Avoid dust-collecting Venetian blinds or long drapes.
Replace old drapes with window shades instead.
Make sure there is an exhaust fan over the stove to
remove cooking fumes.
In the Car
Keep
windows closed and set the air conditioner to use recirculated
air if you are allergic to pollen.
Don't permit smoking in the car.
Outdoors
Minimize
walks in wooded areas or gardens.
Check the forecast. Stay indoors as much as possible
on hot, dry, windy days when pollen counts are generally
the highest.
Try to avoid extreme temperature changes -- they are
triggers for some people with asthma.
If possible, stay indoors between 5 and 10 a.m. when
outdoor pollen counts are usually highest.
Wear a mask (such as an inexpensive painter's mask)
when mowing the lawn if you are allergic to grass pollen
or mold. Avoid mowing and being around freshly cut grass
if possible.
Wear a mask when gardening, as flowers and some weeds
release pollen and can cause allergy symptoms.
Avoid raking leaves or working with hay or mulch if
you are allergic to mold.
After being outdoors, take a shower, wash your hair,
and change your clothes to remove pollen that may have
collected in your clothes and hair.
To protect yourself from insect stings, wear shoes,
long pants and sleeves, and do not wear scented deodorants,
perfumes, shampoos, or hair products.
Don't hang clothes or linens out to dry, as pollen and
molds may collect in them and can make your allergies
worse.
Traveling
Pack
your medicines with you in your carry-on bag.
Bring an extra supply of medicines in case you need
them.
Staying in a Hotel
Ask
for a nonsmoking room.
Remove feather pillows and ask for synthetic, nonallergenic
pillows -- or bring your own plastic pillow cover from
home.
If possible, keep the vent on the room air conditioner
shut.
Dining
Eat
in smoke-free restaurants.
For food allergies, avoid the foods that cause your
allergy symptoms by carefully reading ingredient labels
and asking about the food preparation methods when dining
out. Choose fresh foods rather than prepared or processed
foods. If you have severe reactions, such as anaphylaxis,
carry an epinephrine injection kit with you at all times.
For Children in School
Discuss
your child's allergies with school personnel.
If your child suffers from food allergies, discuss them
with school officials, teachers, and lunchroom staff.
Educate your child about his/her allergies early, so
your child can learn to avoid situations where he or
she may eat a food that will trigger an allergic reaction.
Arrange for an epinephrine kit to be left at the school,
and make sure school officials (and your child when
they are old enough) are able to use it correctly.
Inform school personnel about the medicines your child
is taking and make arrangements to leave necessary medicines
at school.
Encourage sports participation, but inform coaches of
medicines that may need to be taken before activities.
Reviewed
by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Department of
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine.
Edited
by Charlotte E. Grayson, MD, Feb. 2004, WebMD.
Portions
of this page © The Cleveland Clinic 2000-2004
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