How to help your family fight allergies this spring?
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If your family suffers from allergies, you will want to do all that you can to help them fight it. Allergies can cause symptoms like watery eyes, stuffy or runny noses, headaches, coughs, and more. While you cannot get rid of allergens completely, there are steps that you can take to reduce allergies for your family.
Using air conditioning
One of the best things that you can do in your home to help fight allergies is to use your air conditioning. Your air conditioning system can fight off allergens with a filter. Inside your HVAC unit, a filter filters out pollen, dust, and pet dander from the air. Having a good fitting filter is imperative to ensure that no debris makes it around the filter and into the air you breathe. To make sure that you have an accurate filter, you will want to measure. A common measurement for HVAC filters is 20x20x1, so you will need a 20x20x1 air filter. If you are unsure of your filter size, you can look on the manufacturer’s website, or you can call your local HVAC professional. To keep allergens at bay, you should be cleaning or changing your filter out every month to two months. If allergy season is particularly bad with high pollen levels, you may want to change your filter out even more frequently.
Supplements and essential oils
Another great way to help fight off allergies is to look at various herbal supplements and essential oils. Supplements like elderberry can help to reduce allergy symptoms. Elderberry can be taken in multiple different ways, including liquid or a gummy. Vitamin C supplements and Vitamin D supplements can also help to minimize allergy symptoms.
Some essential oils like peppermint, eucalyptus, and lavender can help open the sinuses and help with allergy recovery. The most common way to use these is to distill them in the air or mix with a carrier oil and place a small amount under the nose or on the chest. It is important to note that only pure essential oils should be used for allergy relief.
Medications
There are a wide variety of medications that are available to allergy sufferers. If you or a member of your family suffer from allergies and you do not experience relief by doing some of the above things, now is the time to speak with your doctor. They can make recommendations on both over-the-counter and prescription medications that can be taken to relieve allergies. They can also advise you on different things that you can do to reduce allergens in your home. Another option for those with severe allergies will be the use of allergy shots. Allergy shots can help reduce allergy attacks quickly.
Cleaning your home
Another thing that can help to fight allergies is to make sure that you keep your home clean. If dander or mold grows in your home, those that suffer from allergies in your home can find themselves overwhelmed with allergy symptoms. To keep your home clean, you will want to make sure that you are dusting at least once a day and making sure that you keep your doors and windows closed as much as possible. You will also want to vacuum and mop floors daily, especially in those areas nearest to the door. A good rule to get into is to have your family take their outdoor clothes off and wash them as soon as they come in. Pollen and other allergens can stick to clothes quite easily, infesting your home with allergens. To reduce the chances of mold and mildew developing in your home, you will want to make sure that you periodically check y our entire house for any signs of moisture. If you do see any signs, call a professional immediately to ensure that there is not any mold growth in your home.
Keeping your home allergen-free is not easy, but with some time and effort, you can help your family that suffers from allergies. Just make sure that you keep your air conditioning filter clean, your home clean, provide supplements and medications when needed.