While some people might develop allergies due to hereditary factors and their genetic makeup, anyone can get affected without prior warning and there is no 100% efficient way to prevent them. At the same time, it is still important to note that there are certain measures you can take in order to prevent a flare up and treat the symptoms if they do manifest.

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Preventing allergic reactions

Most people struggling with allergies know that the symptoms of these conditions are not constantly present – instead, they usually go through periods of decreased activity and reactivation, usually as a result of the presence of a trigger. Trigger substances can cause sudden and severe flare-ups of the symptoms, so avoiding them is the best and most reliable way to prevent allergic reaction.

Reducing allergen exposure at home

If you manage to efficiently reduce your exposure to allergens at home you will make a huge step towards keeping your allergy symptoms at a manageable level. Of course, the first step will be to identify your triggers so you can plan your further actions. Once your triggers have been identified, then you can find a way to remove them or at least limit their presence in your home.

A significant percentage of allergies are caused by various microscopic particles including pollen, mould spores, dust mites or pet dander. Once you identify your specific triggers, you should try and keep them out of your home completely which, of course, isn’t always easy. However, there are certain practices which might prove to be useful when it comes to that, of course, depending on the exact triggers.

House dust mites

  • Remove carpets from your home and rely on wooden or laminate flooring instead
  • Regularly clean surfaces with a damp cloth to remove dust
  • Frequently wash and vacuum soft furnishings
  • Keep the house well ventilated

Animal dander

  • Keep pets away from bedroom areas
  • Clean pet beds on regular basis
  • Instead of grooming pets yourself, arrange for it to be done away from home

Mould spores

  • Always use extractor fans when cooking or showering
  • Keep rooms well ventilated and allow the air to circulate
  • Don’t dry clothes inside your home
  • If you struggle with dampness or condensation, solve the issue as soon as possible

Pollen

  • Keep the doors and windows closed during pollen season
  • Don’t dry clothes outside so they don’t capture pollen particles
  • Take a shower whenever you enter the home from outside

Avoiding triggers at work

At work you will have significantly less control over the environment as opposed to your home, so it comes as no surprise that as much as 27% of those affected by allergies report an increase in symptoms at work. While this exacerbation of symptoms can be explained by the change in environment and lack of control over it, there are some things you can do even in that setting. Most offices should be open to accommodating employees struggling with allergies with certain changes and you should feel free to talk to your manager about that.

Of course, before making a move, you should know what your triggers are exactly and this might involve getting tested by a healthcare professional.

After that, you can approach the manager and ask for certain changes that might make the environment at work safer for you. These can include:

  • Keeping the office ventilated
  • Replacing carpeted floors with solid wood or any other allergy-approved flooring
  • Keeping your desk environment as clean and tidy as possible
  • Limit the introduction of outside pollutants to the office by keeping the outwear in an area separate from workspace

Preventing food allergies

People affected by food allergies are especially vulnerable when moving outside since for some of them even trace amount of certain foods might be enough to trigger an allergic reaction. However, at home, where you have more control, there are certain things that you should do, including carefully reading the ingredient labels prior to purchasing and trying to cook food from scratch as much as it is possible for you.

When leaving your home, for example, to go to work, you should always carry your EpiPen with you and make sure any food you might be offered is safe for you before eating it.

How can my allergies be treated?

While allergies cannot be completely cured, there are many medications available on the modern market that can make living with allergies much easier and more manageable. Of course, when it comes to medications, your doctor is the one that will thoroughly assess your condition and recommend the best choice of treatment for you specifically. Naturally, with time and in line with your responsiveness to the treatment, the doctor might adjust your treatment, whether it’s the dose or the exact type of the medicine prescribed.

Here we will discuss some of the most commonly issued medicines for allergy treatment and management.

Antihistamines in allergy treatment

Antihistamines are undoubtedly the most commonly prescribed allergy medications that are available in multiple forms including standard tablets, creams, nasal sprays, eye drops and even tinctures. However, it is their mechanism of action that connects them in one precisely defined class of pharmaceutical compounds.

Antihistamines offer their users relief from allergy symptoms by inhibiting the activity of the naturally synthesised compound called histamine. Histamine plays a major role in the allergic reaction and is the key compound behind the majority of the symptoms, including constricted airways and enlarged blood vessels.

Antihistamines can function both as relief and preventive medicines – when used prior to exposure to a known allergen, they will minimise the symptoms, just as if they were administered following the exposure. Because of that, medications belonging to this class of pharmaceutical compounds are commonly prescribed to patients living with allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, or allergies to insect bites or animal hair.

While drowsiness has historically been viewed as the biggest downside of antihistamines, in the recent years, the experts in the fields of pharmacology have addressed this issue and manage to develop new versions of well-known antihistamines that lack this previously common side effect.

Emollients

Emollients are topical medicines available in the form of a cream or lotion and are most commonly prescribed to patients affected by skin conditions such as eczema or excessive dryness of the skin. Emollients work by soothing the irritated areas of the skin, while also creating a protective barrier over the skin which helps the skin remain moist. Some medicines of this type also contain antibacterial substances that can help prevent infections, while some others might be based on a steroid active ingredient that can play a role in limiting inflammation.

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are a subtype of steroids that contain artificially produce cortisol hormone (naturally produced in the adrenal gland). They are used for the treatment of numerous allergies (including asthma, rhinitis and eczema) and work by reducing the inflammatory processes triggered by an allergic reaction. In asthmatics, this is especially important, since corticosteroids facilitate relaxation of the otherwise tightened airways, allowing easier breathing.

Corticosteroids come in a variety of forms including injections, inhalers, tablets, nasal sprays, as well as topical creams, lotions and gels.

Adrenaline auto-injectors (AAI) as emergency allergy treatments

Adrenaline auto-injectors, often abbreviated to AAIs, are emergency allergy treatments that are used in the case of a severe allergic reaction involving anaphylaxis. Anaphylactic shock is a potentially lethal condition caused by the sudden release of histamine that constricts the airways to the point where breathing becomes almost impossible, resulting in a loss of consciousness if no emergency treatment is administered.

Auto-injectors such as EpiPen are based on epinephrine (adrenaline) as an active ingredient which, when injected, decreases the swelling by narrowing blood vessels and opens up the airways, making breathing easier. All auto-injector devices have been designed for easy and rapid administration. As such, it should be carried by those affected by severe allergies at all times in case of a sudden reaction.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a form of treatment that relies on the idea of ‘teaching’ the immune system that certain allergen is not a threat and while its results are limited at best, immunotherapy is the closest we came to actually curing certain allergies.

Immunotherapy works by introducing a small amount of trigger to the patient in a controlled environment, usually through an injection or a sample that is put underneath the tongue. Through time, the body’s immune system will ‘learn’ to avoid severe reactions to the said substances.

However, it is important to note that immunotherapy cannot be applied in all cases. Usually, it is limited to insect stings, pollen and animal dander. And even then, this method of treating allergies still carries with it certain risks which are not guaranteed to pay off.

Natural remedies

Getting diagnosed with a chronic condition is always stressful, and if that condition requires daily medication, many of those affected might feel as if they lives have changed beyond recognition. Of course, this is certainly an overstatement, and when it comes to allergies, most of those affected can live perfectly normal and otherwise healthy life with just some minor changes.

However, in pursuit of the way to cure their condition quickly and go ‘back to normal’ many might turn to alternative medicine and natural remedies that promise quick and easy solution to their health issues.

However, keep in mind that even natural remedies are changes in your treatment plan, and you should not start taking them prior to consulting with your doctor.

Some of the most common ‘alternative’ allergy treatments include:

  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Probiotics
  • Local honey

However, the scientific research into these alternative approaches is either lacking or has shown that the benefits of said treatments are, when it comes to allergies, borderline non-existent.