What's Making You Sneeze
You may think you have the cold that just won't quit (if so try these remedies that really work). But if you've been rubbing your eyes or suffering from congestion for more than two weeks, it's time to consider a different diagnosis: allergies. A survey of more than 10,000 households found they seem to be on the rise, and not just among kids - you can develop a nasal allergy for the first time as a grown-up. In fact, adults between the ages of 35 and 49 are the group most likely to suffer, according to the survey. Beyond the annoying sneezing and drippy nose, people with allergies often have trouble sleeping. Worse, an out-of-control allergy ups the chances you'll develop asthma - an inflammatory disease of the lower airways.
The only surefire way to protect yourself is to try to avoid the offending allergens. Reducing your exposure to them "can make your symptoms milder - and make it easier for you to get good relief from allergy medicines, at lower doses," says Beth Corn, M.D., assistant professor of medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. Start by recording your symptoms for a week or more - when they flare up or settle down. The info will help pinpoint your triggers and assist your doctor in helping you get them under control.
5 Surprising Triggers
Ragweed. Even if it's nowhere in sight, this yellow flowering plant can still cause your sniffles. Ragweed pollen can travel on the wind, and it starts to pollinate about now (August 15 is the unofficial start of the season). You can't completely run from ragweed, but you can reduce your contact. Save outdoor exercise for evening (when pollen counts are lowest); before coming in, remove shoes (so you don't track pollen into the house) and then, if you can, take a shower and wash your hair. Use a saline rinse daily to wash pollen from your nasal passages. Also, keep windows closed and clean the air filters in your air conditioners - car, too. Watch out for food allergies caused by cross-reaction too.
Dust. It's not just the bunnies themselves, but also bits trapped in the dust that set off allergies. Especially bothersome dust mites, creepy microscopic insects that live by the gazillions in the fibers of bedding, upholstered furniture, and carpets. Regularly using a vacuum with a HEPA filter can make a dent in dust; also, try allergen-proof bedding. Your dust allergy could be worsened by work as well: A Danish review of five studies found exposure to office dust for up to five hours a day increased eye, nose, and throat irritation. Consider a portable air filter for your workspace.
Pets. You probably know it's not the fur of your dog or cat that makes you sneeze, it's the dander - dandruff-like scales that are shed from the animal's skin into the air - and saliva. At the least, keep your pet out of your bedroom. In most cases, this will cut your daily exposure by a third. Plus, strategic cleaning helps eliminate allergy triggers.
Bugs. In case you didn't already think cockroaches were repellent: When their saliva, feces, cast-off skins, and dead bodies dry up, the bits become airborne and you can inhale them, triggering allergies. But the prettier Asian ladybug is a culprit, too. When these insects "fly away home," it may well be to your house; in late fall, they often swarm inside to protect themselves from freezing weather. The best way to clear them out is to vacuum them up (be sure to discard the dust bag ASAP so the captured beetles don't escape). For ongoing control of cockroaches, use poison baits, sticky traps, or boric acid powder (dust behind cabinets, behind your oven and refrigerator, and in other nooks and crannies in the kitchen).
Mold. Bathrooms and damp basements are the most common places for mold to lurk in your home, but not the only hideouts. The dirt of indoor potted plants can breed the stuff too, and even grocery-store mushrooms, if you're supersensitive, could make trouble, a new University of Tulsa study has found. Mold spores go dormant in cool (under 70°F) and dry (humidity levels under 50 percent) conditions, so regulating the temperature in your house can help stop their growth and spread. If you can't open a window in the bathroom, use a dehumidifier or exhaust fan. Placing a layer of aquarium gravel over the dirt of houseplants might help keep mold from getting airborne. And follow these other tips to detox your house thoroughly.
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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.
