6 New Year’s Resolutions That Will Help Your Allergies

Make your home a better place to breathe:

Vacuum your carpets regularly

By vacuuming your carpets on a regular basis (rather than only right before the in-laws come over), you'll reduce the amount of dust and pollen in your home, reducing the chances of developing a carpet allergy. Carpets can collect lots of different allergens, including pollen and pet dander. A good practice is to clean your carpet every other month with a professional steamer and to vacuum your couch and chairs regularly. Although we cannot always prevent our allergies from acting up, there are steps we can take to reduce our exposure. One great way to start is by cleaning our homes on a regular basis, paying special attention to areas where allergens are commonly found in many home furnishings, including beds, carpets, rugs, couches, and floors. Best of all? There are a lot of these quick and easy solutions!

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Work on decluttering

Clutter around the home tends to sit and collect dust. Where dust collects, dust mites follow. Dust mites are awful for your allergies, in fact, dust mites are one of the most common triggers for respiratory allergies. Dust mites are microscopic parasites that feed on dead human skin cells and other particles found in dust. They’re often found in areas like your bed or other furniture.  They can wreak havoc on your allergies as they continue to form. By keeping your space clean and clutter free, you’ll greatly reduce the amount of dust and dust mites. Also, consider investing in dust mite proof covers for your pillows or mattress covers.

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Wash curtains and dust blinds regularly

‍If dust is an irritant for you or you’re waking up with a stuffy nose every morning, New Year’s resolution number one should be to make your home as dust-free as possible. Curtains and blinds are obvious culprits when it comes to harboring dust and other allergens. In order to remove airborne particles from these items, wash them regularly using a mild detergent in cold water and hang them up outdoors while they dry completely. You can also try vacuuming curtains and blinds on a regular basis with a soft brush attachment to reduce particle levels. 

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Reduce exposure to triggers and improve your overall health:

Regularly wash and brush pets

Many people assume that their pets don't cause allergies because they themselves are not allergic to them. However, because of their fur, when a pet goes outside, it becomes an air filter for any allergen that is floating in the air. Many people will wait until their pets have gone from smelly to dirty before cleaning them. Brushing and washing your pet on a regular basis will help keep allergens off of them. Give your pets a bath to clean off pollen and such when they come in from the outdoors. Use particular care to wash and wipe their paws, as they can easily come in contact with allergens. 

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‍Check the local pollen count

If pollen is especially high, don’t make your allergies worse by continuing to go outside, especially if you don’t have to. It is a simple step that can truly change your day and how severe your symptoms will be. Many apps, such as Allergy Plus by pollen.com, will notify you of the pollen count every morning. 

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Stop taking antihistamines

If you suffer from mild allergies, taking antihistamines may seem like a good idea. However, these over-the-counter medications only work  if you take them every day and can have dangerous side effects. If you’re struggling with severe allergies, always speak to your doctor before taking antihistamines. Instead of taking pills to treat your allergy symptoms, focus on improving your overall health. Learn more about the dangers antihistamines can cause by listening to our podcast with Dr. Thompson!
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Reward Yourself:

One of the most important parts of goals is the reward. It’s so important to reward yourself after meeting a goal. Using an app like Perx is a great way to stay on top of your daily drops and get rewarded for it! All you have to do is sign up and set an alert for when you need to take your medication. As you continue to take your medication you earn points that you can redeem for gift cards! 

Get a HEPA purifier

HEPA filters remove 99.97% of particles that measure .3 microns or larger from a room’s air. The size of pollen and pet dander, HEPA filters can dramatically reduce dust in a room. If you or someone you know is affected by allergies, consider getting a HEPA filter for your bedroom; it will make sleeping much more comfortable and will let you wake up every morning feeling better than before.

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Get allergy tested

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 50 million Americans suffer from allergies every year. It is a problem that tends to get worse with age, and it has been reported that more than 80% of people aged 50 or older have one or more allergies. If you know you’ve experienced allergy symptoms for years, you owe it to yourself to find out the actual cause. For these reasons, having yourself tested for common allergens would not be a bad idea at all. More often than not, knowing what causes your allergy will make it easier to prevent further reactions. If you have been suffering without an end in sight, it’s time to take control of your allergies. 

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Find the right doctor for you

When you're searching for a doctor that truly understands your unique needs, you want to be sure to find one who will listen to your concerns, cares about your health, and has expertise in the field. At Aspire Allergy & Sinus, our board-certified allergists have come from all over to pursue the passion of helping patients get their lives back and breathe better. In our 10+ years, our customized plans have made it possible for us to help people from all areas of life achieve relief from their allergies or sinus issues. 

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It just takes something small to begin a new life. Instead of going through allergy season after allergy season, you could spend this next year living your life to the fullest. No more worrying about how bad the pollen is outside or feeling sneezy and sniffly all the time. Allergies shouldn’t be something you have to deal with for the rest of your life, they are treatable. Let us help you become the best version of yourself and make an appointment to treat your allergies today!

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