How to Choose an Air Purifier for Allergy Relief

Are you looking for relief from your allergy symptoms?  If you are, you may want to examine air purifiers.  Air purifiers are a great way to seek relief from many of the most common allergy symptoms.  In fact, some individuals see a complete elimination of allergy symptoms when they are in a home that has an air purifier. 

If this is the first time that you are interested in buying an air purifier, you may be looking for guidance. After all, there are hundreds of air purifiers currently available for sale.  If you are overwhelmed with all of your options, you will want to continue reading on.  A few tips to help you buy an air purifier are outlined below for your convenience.

When looking to buy an air purifier for allergies, it is first advised that you examine HEPA air purifiers.  Air purifiers that use HEPA technology come highly rated and recommended.  All air purifiers capture and hold potentially harmful particles from the air, including mold, dust mites, and pet dander, but some do it better than others.  It has been said that HEPA air filters trap around 90% of particles in the air, on average.  This percentage is much higher than most other air purifiers and air filters.

Another great way to go about buying an air purifier that will produce good, quality results is by asking those that you know for recommendations.  You can and should speak to your neighbors, coworkers, family, friends, and well as your doctor.  Air purifiers have increased in popularity over the past few years.  This is mostly due in part to the fact that many want to improve their health and the air insider their homes.  If an individual that you know uses an air purifier, ask them for information on their purifier.  Do they like it? What are the pros and cons of owning?

Another tip to help you choose an air purifier for allergy relief is by doing research online.  If you like the price of an air purifier that you see available for sale locally, you may want to refrain from buying it right away.  Instead, write down the make and model and do the research online when you get home.  Many air purifiers are rated and reviewed online.  Reading reviews and examining ratings can help you save money by avoiding air purifiers that are not worth their cost or too costly to maintain.

When looking to buy an air purifier for allergy relief, it is important to take quality into consideration.  As previously stated, rating, reviews, and recommendations can help you gauge the quality of an air purifier.  It is also important to restate that not all allergy air purifiers are created equal, as they do tend to produce different results.  If you suffer from allergies, you will want to seek the best relief possible.  Also, examine air purifiers for allergies that come with warranties.  Generally speaking, a warranty means that a manufacturer completely stands behind their product, which should help to give you comfort and peace of mind.

Cost should also be examined when looking to choose an air purifier.  When it comes to cost, it is always important to remember that you get what you pay for.  You can expect to pay more money for high end air purifiers, but most find it more than worth it.  To help you save money, consider shopping online or at least comparing prices online first.  It is also important to examine the long-term costs of owning an air purifier.  If filters are used, how often do they need to be replaced?  What are the cost of them?  Remember that you often end up paying more than just the sticker price when buying an air purifier.

The above mentioned factors should all be taken into consideration when looking to buy an air purifier.  As a reminder, not all air purifiers are created equal, so make sure that you are buying the best.

How to Manage and Treat Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

Do you find yourself feeling miserable, coughing, or sneezing at about the same time each and every year?  If you do, it is important to note that you may be suffering from seasonal allergies.  Although it is possible to suffer from seasonal allergies all year round, many individuals find that their symptoms are worst during the spring and fall.

As for how you can go about seeking relief from your seasonal allergy symptoms or at least how you can manage them, there are a number of important steps that you will want to take.  These steps, a few of which are actually recommended by those in the medical field, are outlined below for your convenience.

One of the first things that you will want to do, when looking to manage or treat your seasonal allergy symptoms is know what your trigger factors are..  When you experience a runny nose, stuffy nose, a cough, or chest congestion, there is likely something in particular that is triggering it.  For many, the culprit is pollen, ragweed, as well as mold.  As far as mold is concerned, many believe that it is only found inside homes and other buildings, but mold is actually quite common outdoors, especially after rainfall.

Another one of the many ways that you can go about seeking relief from seasonal allergies is by seeking the proper treatment.  Although some individuals are able to manage their symptoms on their own, many more need to seek relief from prescription medications or at least over-the-counter products.  This is where visiting a doctor may be a good idea, especially if your seasonal allergy symptoms cause you pain or discomfort.  As previously stated, your doctor will likely prescribe allergy relief medication to you, especially if he or she thinks that your allergy symptoms are severe enough.

If you decide to seek relief from your seasonal allergies without the use of a doctor, but still with medication, you will likely turn to over-the-counter products.  Before taking an over the counter product, be sure to read all warning labels and all information that is provided to you.  Some over-the-counter medications can react with others or have side effects.  If you want reassurance that you will be trying a safe product and one that is known to produce results, you may want to speak to any other seasonal allergy sufferers that you know, a pharmacist, or you can read reviews on over-the-counter products online.

In addition to the above mentioned steps, which all involve the use of some form of medicine, it is also important to know that many individuals are able to seek relief from their seasonal allergies with natural steps or other small easy steps.  For example, The Weather Channel is known for outlining high pollen counts in certain areas. They often do so on live broadcasts as well as on their website.  If your area is impacted by high levels of pollen, it may be a wise idea to stay indoors or at least wear a protective mask.  Checking any pets that you may have is another great tip that many do not think of.  Longhaired cats and dogs can get pollen and ragweed stuck on their hair, which can later result in it making its way into your home.

As highlighted above, there are a number of steps that you can take to seek relief from your allergy symptoms.  The good news is that most of these steps are all easy to implement.

How to Tell If You Have Allergies

Do you think that you may be suffering from allergies?  If you do, you may looking for conformation.  The good news is that there are a number of approaches that you can take to help you tell if you do have an allergy problem. 

Perhaps, the easiest way to determine if you have allergies is by seeking the advice of a medical professional.  Doctors are one of the best ways to receive a proper diagnosis.  In fact, did you know that if you are suffering from allergies, you may be able to get a prescription medication through your doctor?  Even if you aren’t prescribed anything, your doctor will likely provide you with more information.  This information may include natural ways that you seek relief from your allergy symptoms or tips on how to cope with them.

As for how a healthcare professional can go about determining whether or not you have allergies, as well as what type of allergies you do suffer from, a number of steps will be taken.  They may ask you to return home and do your own experiments, like if you suffer from pet allergies.  This approach isn’t always common though, as some health professionals are worried about what would happen with a severe allergic reaction.  So, chances are a number of tests will be performed under the supervision of your doctor or another trained professional.  If you have a food allergy, you may have to sample foods that you believe may be causing the reaction, and so forth.

Another one of the many ways that a doctor may make a diagnosis, concerning allergies, is by having their patients describe their symptoms.  In fact, symptoms are an easy way for you to determine yourself whether or not you are suffering from allergies.  Although some allergies types do have different signs and symptoms, you will find that many are quite similar.  These symptoms may include hives, a runny nose, sneezing, chest congestion, and a postnasal drip.  Those who suffer from food allergies may experience a loss of consciousness or difficultly breathing.  If you experience these symptoms, medical attention must be sought immediately.  As for pet allergies, the above mentioned symptoms are often experienced, but some individuals may develop skin rashes where their pets brushed up against their skin.

As it was previously stated, food allergies are known to cause the most severe allergic reactions, especially peanut allergies and wheat allergies.  If you suspect that you suffer from these two food allergies, it is important to stop eating wheat or peanut products immediately and seek medical attention.  On the other, hand if you are dealing with seasonal allergies, allergies due to pet dander, or mold and mildew allergies, you may be able to treat your symptoms naturally.  There are a number of online websites that list home remedies and natural remedies that should work for most allergy sufferers.  There are also natural remedy and home remedy books that can be found both on and offline.  In fact, there are printed resources available for those looking for more information on allergies, such as how to manage or treat the symptoms, as well as how to cope with them.

As highlighted above, it can be easy for some individuals to determine whether or not they have an allergy problem.  If you suspect that you do, like if you have a number of the above mentioned symptoms, it may still be a good idea to schedule an appointment with your physician.

Natural Allergy Relief: Is It Possible?

Do you suffer from allergies?  If you do, you may have been prescribed prescription medication by your doctor.  If not, you may have still tired a number of over-the-counter allergy relief medications and products.  Unfortunately, medicine does not always work for all allergy sufferers.  That leaves many individuals wondering if there is a way that they can seek more natural relief, without the use of medicine.

As for whether or not you can seek allergy relief without the use of prescription medication or over-the-counter products, you will find that you can.  In fact, you will find that you have a number of different options.  Some of these options are not only safer than using medicine, but they are also much cheaper.

If you do not suffer from food allergies, you can use food as way to seek relief.  As for why you should avoid this approach if you suffer from a food allergy, it is because you may have another allergic reaction, which you are trying to prevent.  With that said, if you are suffering from seasonal allergies, pet allergies, mold and mildew allergies, certain foods may be able to provide you with relief.  These foods include the juice from a lime, namely when mixed with lukewarm water, eating one or two bananas a day, as well as drinking vegetable juices.

Another more natural way to relive some of the symptoms that are associated with allergies is with vitamin B5.  Although many sometimes consider vitamin supplements to be medicine, they aren’t really.  Even though you will be taking a supplement, it is still much more natural than many allergy relief medications.  For how much vitamin B5 should be taken, most recommend one supplement a day for around two or three months.

Despite the fact that natural ways to seek relief from allergies are most commonly associated with natural remedies that involve certain foods, vitamins, and herbs, there are other steps that you can take.  For example, you can remove yourself from your trigger factors.  For example, if you have allergies that are due to mold and mildew, avoid areas in your home where mold or mildew is present, like your basement.  If you suffer from allergies due to dust, consider hiring a professional cleaning service or you can clean more often, which should reduce the amount of dust that accumulates overtime.

As it was previously stated, it is advised that you display caution if you suffer from a food allergy.  This is because many food allergies are more severe than other allergies, such as pet allergies.  Those who are allergic to peanuts can actually go into shock and die within a matter of minutes.  For that reason, if you suffer from food allergies, you will not want to just limit your consumption of foods, but you will want to completely eliminate the food or foods that you are allergic to from your diet.  This is important to know as some sufferers do get other allergies confused.  For example, those who suffer from pet allergies don’t always need to find a new home for their pets, but they should limit their contact.  However, it is important to remember that food allergies and pet allergies are not the same.

As previously stated, there are a number of different ways that you can natural seek allergy relief.  If you are looking for more steps that you can take, perform a standard internet search online.  Also, consider investing in natural remedy books or guides that are designed to help those living with allergies.

Suffering from Allergies: Should You See a Medical Professional

Do you suspect that you suffer from allegories?  If you do, are your symptoms severe?  If they are not, you may be wondering if you really need to seek medical help.  Of course, there is no harm that can come from scheduling a visit with your doctor, but you still may not want to do so.  Before you make your decision, it is a good idea to examining the pros and cons of seeking medical help when you only experience moderate to minor allergy symptoms.

As for the pros or plus sides to seeking professional medical help when you think that you are suffering from an allergy, there are a number of them. One of them is the knowledge and expertise that you gain access to.  It is no secret that professional healthcare providers know what they are doing.  Many have years of experience diagnosing allergies and well as helping their patients seek relief.  Of course, you can do your own research online to learn more about allergies, but there is nothing that compares to the expert advice of a doctor.

Another one of the pros or plus sides to seeking medical attention when you suspect that you are suffering from an allergy is that you can receive prescription medication.  Although many doctors only prescribe prescription medication when allergy symptoms are severe, having the option is still nice for many.  For some individuals, over-the-counter allergy relief products just don’t work.  Those who suffer from food allergies, like peanut allergies, may not only receive medicine from their doctor that can help with their symptoms, but they will also likely receive medicine that may one day save their life.

Another pro or plus side to seeing a doctor if you suspect that you suffer from an allergy is that it should be easy for you to schedule an appointment.  If you have a regular doctor who you see on occasion, all you should have to do is schedule an appointment.  With that said, it may be more difficult for you if you are a new patient.  New patients often get the last appointments and some are even put on waiting lists.  Still, you can shop around for a good doctor.  Look for one that accepts your health insurance.  Someone in your town who practices medicine should have an opening soon.

Although there are a number of pros or plus sides to seeking medical attention when you suspect that you may have an allergy, there are a number of cons or downsides to doing so as well.  One of those downsides is the cost.  If you do not have adequate health insurance, you may have high co-pays or high deductibles.  If you do not have health insurance, it can be costly to schedule an appointment with a doctor.  With that said, it is still a good idea to seek medical attention.  If you need to, look for doctors or healthcare establishments that are income based.  They can help you save money.  Also, see if you qualify for state run programs, such as Medicaid.  This is most important to do if you do have severe allergy symptoms.

Time is another common downside to seeking medical attention when you are only experiencing a small number of non-severe allergy symptoms.  It is no secret that doctors don’t always have the most convenient hours.  If you do not have enough time or if you cannot take time off from work, you may find it difficult to seek medical attention.  With that in mind, some clinics have flexible hours.  These hours may include being open on the weekends or late at least one night at week.  If you do experience severe allergy symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, you are advised to go to the hospital.

Finally, some do not like seeking medical attention when they can treat themselves at home, because nothing may be done.  It is not uncommon for a doctor to recommend over-the-counter allergy relief products when symptoms are not severe.  You and many others sometimes view a visit to the doctor’s office, in this type of case, as a waste of time and money.

Tips for Managing Pet Allergies

Do you suspect that you have a pet allergy?  If you do, you may be looking for ways to seek relief or you may be looking for tips on how you can manage having a pet allergy.  If you are, you will want to continue reading on, as a few helpful tips are outlined below.

Although there are a number of steps that you can take to treat or manage allergies that are due to pets, it is first important to make sure that you do have a pet allergy.  Visit a healthcare provider or do your own experiments at home or when you are around animals. Do your symptoms get better when you are not near a pet?  If so, you may have a pet allergy.  Determining whether or not you do have pet allergies can help you save a lot of time and stress, should you actually not have an allergy.

If you do have a pet allergy or if you truly suspect that you do, it is advised that you schedule a visit with your healthcare provider.  A doctor may recommend over-the-counter allergy relief medications for you.  They may also prescribe a medication, depending on your symptoms.  Although over-the-counter medicines and prescription medicines are all great ways to seek relief from allergies, it is also important to know that there are a number of natural steps that you can and should take.

One of the best ways to deal with a pet allergy is to remove the pet or pets from your home.  If you aren’t a pet owner, but if you have allergy symptoms when visiting friends or family, reconsider your choice to do so.  Of course, you can limit the amount of time you are there or reduce your visits, but you may want to consider doing something else instead.  Shopping, eating lunch, or having a cup of coffee are all great alternatives.

If you are a pet owner who cannot bear to part with your pets, like if you consider them to be a member of your family, keep your pet or pets out of your bedroom.  The bedroom is the place where many individuals spend most of their time.  The last thing that you want to be doing is suffering from allergies when trying to get a good nights sleep.  If you are a visitor, as opposed to the pet owner, ask to move outside, if the weather is nice.  You can also ask to move to a room where the pets aren’t allowed. 

Vacuuming as much as possible is another great way to relieve the symptoms of pet allergies.  If you own a cat or a dog, invest in a good, quality vacuum cleaner, namely one that uses HEPA technology.  There are also vacuum cleaners that are designed for pet owners.  They may be a good idea if you are suffering from pet allergies.  Many come with attachments that allow you to easily get pet air off of bedding and furniture.

As previously stated, it is important to remember that you can suffer from pet allergies even if you aren’t a pet owner.  If you know of someone who is a pet owner, like a close friend or family member, be sure to talk to them about your pet allergy.  Of course, they will not get rid of their pets just for you, but they may take proactive steps to make their home a safer place for you.  These steps may involve keeping their pets in another room or vacuuming before you come over.

As previously stated, if you do suffer from pet allergies or if you suspect that you may, it is a wise idea to schedule a visit with your doctor.  He or she can prescribe medication to you or offer other helpful tips.  With that being said, if you are uninsured, please try some of the easy and affordable steps highlighted above.

Tips for Parents of Children with Food Allergies

Are you the parent of a child who suffers with food allergies?  If you are, you may be looking for some helpful tips to cope with your child’s medical condition. 

One of the first things that you will want to do is talk to your child about their food allergy.  This is most important to do with preschoolers and young elementary school aged children.  It is common for this age group to switch snacks or share snacks with their friends or classmates, but it isn’t always safe to do so.  The younger that you have this conversation with your child, the better it will be.  For small children, be sure to discus your child’s food allergy with them more than once.  For older children and teenagers, teach them how they can read food labels themselves.

In addition to talking to your child, be sure to talk to anyone and everyone that comes into contact with your child.  This includes teachers, school nurses, daycare providers, relatives, and parents of friends.  A large number of food reactions happen outside of the home when a parent is not present.  If you are sending your child to visit family or a friend, it may be a wise idea to send your own bag of safe, approved snacks.

As for feeding a child with food allergies at home, it is important to read all labels.  Some foods, even those that may not contain nuts or wheat, may still have a warning stating that these products may be found in the food.  If so, it is best to stay away.  It is also important that you read the labels of foods that your child will eat every time.  To some parents this may seem like a waste of time, but manufacturers are known to change their recipes and the ingredients that they use.  For that reason, it is better to be safe than sorry.

When eating away from home with your child, like at a fast food restaurant, a nice sit down resultant, deli, or bakery, it is always a good idea to ask questions first.  This is most important to do at delis and bakeries.  Are all foods made on the same spot?  At a deli, is a different meat cutter used for meats and cheeses?  They should be if your child has allergies to milk and other dairy products.  Is there a chance that a certain food, like peanuts or wheat may have been used or even just casually made their way into other products?

It is also important that you know how to handle an allergic reaction to food.  Be sure that those around you and your child know how to handle a food reaction as well.  If your child is given medication to take in the event of an allergic reaction, make sure that medication is with you and your child at all times.  At school or for daycare, give the medication to the school nurse or daycare provider.  If your child is visiting friends or family, be sure to give the medication to the adult and let them know when it needs to be used, if at all.

If your child has an allergic reaction to something that they ate, it is important to determine right away if your child needs medical attention.  Many parents like to seek medication attention for their kids even if it appears that they are okay.  This is more than possible to do, especially if the food allergy is relatively new or if it is the first couple of times that you are dealing with an allergic reaction.

As you can see, there are a number of important tips that you must keep in mind and know if you are the parent of a child who suffers from a foods allergy, especially a peanut allergy.  Since most allergic reactions happen when a parent is not around, be sure to keep all adults that have contact with your child well informed.