Suffering? Use these Tips to Beat Allergies both Indoors and Outdoors

If you’re an allergy sufferer, you know how miserable allergies can make you. Whether you suffer from hay fever, indoor allergies, or both, symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes can take all the fun out of the beautiful spring weather we’re enjoying. It is time to beat allergies this spring.

Don’t surrender to the sneeze! These tips will help you battle allergy symptoms and get back to enjoying your life.

Allergy Symptoms

Allergy symptoms vary from person to person, and different allergens can produce different symptoms in the same person. Some symptoms that are common among allergy sufferers,and they include:

• Red, itchy, runny, or stuffy nose
• Red, itchy, watery eyes
• Coughing, wheezing, or trouble breathing
• Itchy skin or hives
• Itching in your throat or the insides of your ears
• Fatigue

Because there is a lot of overlap between allergy symptoms and the symptoms of a cold, WebMD offers this chart to help you distinguish between the two.

If you think you might have allergies, keep track of your symptoms and when and where them occur, and report them to your doctor. They may want to run an allergy test to see what you could be allergic to.

If you already know what you’re allergic to, the information below can help you minimize your symptoms.

Did you know your dog can suffer from allergies, too? Click here to find out what to look for and how to make Fido feel better.

Beat Allergies Outdoors

Outdoor allergies are a big concern this time of year, and experts predict an especially tough season for hay fever sufferers in 2014. As you start mowing the grass, taking the dog for longer walks, and planting your garden, your outdoor allergies can flare up and make your life miserable.

The most common culprits this time of year are grasses and tree pollen, although outdoor molds can also be a problem.

If your outdoor allergies are causing you problems, you can do many things to feel better. The two keys to battling your outdoor allergies are minimizing your exposure and treating your symptoms.

Click here to learn how to reduce the outdoor allergens in your life and how to treat symptoms when they arise.

Beat Allergies Indoors

They’re often called winter allergies, but indoor allergies can be a year-round issue. We spend a lot of our time indoors, and the popularity of air conditioners means that our homes are nearly as sealed-off during the summer as they are during the winter, keeping indoor allergens inside.

Common indoor allergens include pet dander, dust mites, and indoor mold. Like outdoor allergies, the symptoms of indoor allergies can vary, but they usually include at least some of the following:

• Coughing, wheezing, or trouble breathing
• Red, watery, itchy eyes
• Red, itchy, stuffy, or runny nose
• Fatigue
• Itchy skin or hives
• Itching in your throat or the insides of your ears

Just like with outdoor allergies, they keys to controlling indoor allergies are reducing your exposure to allergens and treating symptoms. But, while part of fighting outdoor allergies is keeping allergens from entering your home, indoor allergies are more difficult to avoid.

Some indoor allergens, such as mold and dust mites, are impossible to eliminate completely. Even so, you can take steps to reduce them and improve your environment.

For example, trading in fabric furniture for leather and carpeting for hard floors can help you reduce dust mites, and zapping mold with Wet & Forget Indoor can help you reduce the mold spores in your home’s air.

Click here for details on how to fight indoor allergies and win.

Photos courtesy of William Brawley.