Generally, there is no known cure for allergies, however, there are several types of medications that can help ease and treat annoying symptoms like congestion or runny nose. You can find both over-the-counter and prescription allergy medicines that are quite useful, and invaluable for many. Antihistamines are a type that works great. Here is how.
How do Antihistamines Work and How to Take Them
When compared to other allergy medicines, antihistamines have been used for a long time to treat and help ease allergy symptoms. Antihistamines can be taken in the form of pills, liquid, nasal spray, or eye drops. Antihistamine eye drops relieve red itchy eyes, and nasal sprays are quite useful for runny nose during seasonal or year-round allergies.
When an allergy-prone person is exposed to an allergen – let’s take ragweed pollen for example – it triggers the immune system. People who suffer from allergies often demonstrate an exaggerated immune response. Cells known as “mast cells” release a substance called histamine, which then attaches to receptors in blood vessels and causes them to enlarge. Histamine also has an effect over other receptors and is responsible for redness, swelling, itching and changes in secretions. Well, allergy medicines, including antihistamines, prevent all these symptoms by blocking histamine and keeping it from binding to receptors.
How to Make Your Home an Allergy-Proof Environment
Granted, allergy medicines do help and treat symptoms, but there are a few things you can do at home in order to avoid having an attack, at least while you are spending time in the comfort of your home. Here is what you can do. If you are allergic to pollen you are advised to keep the windows closed and run the air-conditioner. Fans are not recommended as they stir up dust. For additional prevention, you can cover the air conditioning vents with cheesecloth so that pollen can be trapped. Next, you should keep the humidity level in your home below 50% to help prevent mould growth.
For pet owners – you should consider keeping your furry friends outside. For more severe cases of allergies taking care of pets is not even an option. For many people, animal dander and saliva are quite common allergens. Furthermore, when you clean around your home don’t forget to use a mask and gloves. This will limit your exposure to dust and chemicals. Finally, even though there are things you can do to help, know that once you leave your home you can’t keep everything under control. That is why allergy medicines are here to provide you with a solution whenever and wherever you may need it.