Monthly Archives: April 2021

What Helps Allergies At Home?

When you are suffering from seasonal allergies, the best solution is to see an allergy specialist who will undertake a battery of tests and recommend the best medication for the condition. Unfortunately, not all of us love hospitals or have the resources to visit one.

What should you do if you fall into one of these categories? The best way out is to control the condition at home. Are you wondering what helps with allergies at home? There are plenty of things you can do. Some of them include:

Keep the filters in top condition.

Dirty air conditioners and furnace filters will worsen your condition, so ensure they are clean and in pristine condition. This means they should not have holes in them. Thankfully, you don’t need to hire a professional to help with the filters—you only need to access their panel and remove them. You can clean or replace them depending on their current condition.

If you don’t currently have the filters in your home, you can add them, either as standalone room units or central heating and air system. According to the American college of allergy, asthma, and immunology, if you have a single room, install a unit with a HEPA filter. To get the most from the filter, ensure that the CADR (clean air delivery rate) is right for the size of the room you are using.

If you have a central and air conditioning system already installed in the house, you can turn it into a filtration system for the entire house by installing a better air filter. Thankfully, there are plenty of permanent and disposable options you can go with.

Herbal teas

When taken properly, herbal teas can work magic. These teas usually have anti-inflammatory effects, which significantly reduce allergy symptoms. Some of the teas you should try out include: stinging nettle, milk thistle, ginkgo, and red clover.

Nose cleansing

It’s common for pollen to adhere to the mucus membranes hence the constant irritation. To alleviate the symptoms, cleanse the nasal passages using Neti pot or nasal spray and flush out the nasal passages.

Do acupuncture

Acupuncture has been shown to relieve the acute symptoms of allergy and at the same time treat the root problems of the condition. While you can do the acupuncture by yourself by following online videos, it’s wise that you have a professional do it for you to reduce the risks of accidents occurring.

Keep as much pollen out of the house as possible.

Besides installing a highly efficient filtration system, keep the windows closed during peak pollen hours. When you get in the house, remove your shoes, so you don’t bring any pollen inside.

If possible, change your clothes before you step into the house so you don’t bring in the pollen that might have clung to your fabric.

Detoxify your body

Studies show that toxins worsen the allergies in the body. The liver is a great mediator of inflammation, and when you have a lot of toxins in the liver, you have a lot of inflammation, and the allergies flare-up.

When you detox your body, you get rid of sugar, fried foods, and other toxins, reducing inflammation. The best way to detoxify the body is to use liver-supportive foods and herbs such as turmeric, milk thistle, citrus fruits, nuts, and artichoke.

See a doctor

You can indeed control allergies at home but if you have tried everything without success, find allergy doctor Manassas VA to recommend the best course of action. When getting an allergist, ensure that are experienced and know what they are doing.

4 Ways On How to Get Rid Of Allergic Reaction Rash

If you suffer from sensitive skin, it’s common for your skin to react to irritants (such as perfumes, essential oils, and talc) and allergens such as pollen, mold, dust, pet dander, and foods such as peanuts.

To return your life to normal, you have to get rid of the rashes. At the moment you must be wondering, how many ways are there on how to get rid of allergic reaction rash? There are plenty of ways you can do it, even without visiting an allergy doctor. Some of these ways include:

Cold press the rash

This is the easiest and fastest way of stopping the pain and itch. Cold pressing also stops the swelling, eases the itching, and slows down the progression of the rash.

There are plenty of ways you can cold press the rashes. You can place a damp cloth on the surface, pour cold water or take cool showers.

One of the most effective ways is to use fabric bags stuffed with ice. Fill the bag with ice, then place the bag on your skin. Hold the bag on your skin until the pain or itch subsides and if the situation doesn’t get better, repeat.

This technique works by limiting blood flow to the affected area. When you apply ice or cold water to the rash, it reduces swelling and inflammation. It can also stop itching immediately. If you have rashes over large parts of your body, it’s difficult to cover the entire area with an ice pack. In such a case, take a cool bath or shower.

Manage the condition using aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is highly effective at managing allergies as it posses strong antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-irritant properties.

There are plenty of ways you can take advantage of aloe Vera. One way is to buy an aloe Vera gel obtained from the aloe leaves and use it to soothe the itchy, irritated skin.

If you have a garden with an aloe plant growing there, you can cut open a leaf, scrape out the gel and apply it directly on the affected skin.

For best results, use the aloe vera twice a day. Before applying it, wash and dry the affected area for maximum absorption.

The aloe Vera works because it contains calcium, zinc, magnesium, vitamin B-12, essential fatty acids, carbohydrates, sterols, and enzymes that give it its unique capabilities.

If you don’t have aloe Vera in your garden or don’t have access to aloe Vera gel, use basil, neem, and coriander leaves to make a paste, then apply it to the affected areas. Let the paste stay on for at least one hour, then rinse it out with water.

Get some relief using baking soda

Baking soda is highly effective at getting rid of allergy rashes. Baking soda also relieves itching and prevents further skin inflammation.

To use it, you need to make a paste of it by mixing half a teaspoon of baking soda in lukewarm water, then apply it to the affected area. Leave it there for a few minutes, then rinse it off. Be cautious not to leave it on the skin surface for too long, as it could cause some irritation.

The chemicals in baking soda act as a buffer where they keep the solutions in a stable acid-alkali balance. Due to this, baking soda soothes the skin and balances the skin’s pH.

See a doctor if things don’t improve.

If you have used the above remedies and none seems to be working, now it’s time to see an allergy specialist Manassas VA. The allergist will begin with doing some tests to determine the nature of your allergy then give you the necessary medications.

When to See a Doctor for Allergies

Most allergies go away on their own or after using a few over-the-counter medications. But a few of the conditions worsen, and they can turn fatal if you don’t see an allergy doctor soon enough. Wondering when to see a doctor for allergies? Here are some of the situations when you should do it:

When you aren’t sure whether you have a cold or allergies

Colds and allergies (especially allergic rhinitis) can be easily confused for each other as they feature running noses and sneezing. If you aren’t sure of what you are suffering from, visit a doctor who will help you determine the condition.

If suffering from allergies, the doctor will undertake a battery of tests to determine the triggers and what you can do to bring the condition to a stop.

To help you tell the difference between allergies and cold, you should look at the symptoms. If you have itching eyes or nose, puffy throat, eyes or eyelids, you are most likely suffering from allergies, but if you have a nagging cough, a low-grade fever, or simply feeling sick and rundown, then you are most likely having a cold.

Either way, don’t go at it blindly and start taking medications. See a doctor to be sure.

The allergy symptoms are getting in the way.

Besides the stuffy nose and other symptoms, allergies can also lead to other issues such as headaches, ear infections, and sinus infections. If these symptoms are coming in the way and making it hard for you to work, sleep, and enjoy the outdoors, you need to take action and see a doctor.

The doctor will help you figure out what you are allergic to and manage the symptoms effectively to get back your life.

When you have tried controlling the condition without success

A tell-tale sign you are suffering from allergies and not a cold is feeling better after 4-5 days. If it’s over a week and the symptoms aren’t getting better or going away, it’s time to see a doctor.

The doctor will help you find a different and better medicine for your condition. For example, if you were using a steroid, he would find an antihistamine to address the symptoms better. The doctor can even analyze the situation and prescribe stronger doses of the same drug you were using.

You have other underlying medical conditions.

Are you suffering from health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, enlarged prostate, or kidney disease? Sometimes over-the-counter medications might not work on the allergies. In other cases, the medications worsen the situation.

By seeing a doctor, you ensure you aren’t putting your life on the line by continuing to take the wrong medications.

The doctor will go through your history and, after testing you, prescribe the best drugs to go for.

What will the doctor do?

When you visit a doctor, there are plenty of things he can do. Some of these things include:

Confirm you are suffering from allergies

You might be experiencing allergy-like symptoms, but it’s only a certified allergist that can confirm that you truly suffer from allergies.

Find your triggers

Allergies can be triggered by plenty of things such as dust, dander, and many others. When you visit an allergy clinic Germantown MD, the doctor will help you find out the allergy triggers. The doctor will also advise you on ways to avoid the triggers.

Come up with a treatment plan.

After the tests, the doctor will help you come up with a treatment plan. The plan includes the type of medicine you should take, when to take it, the things to avoid due to the allergies, and what to do if the situation worsens.