Saw your ex? Triggered! Read that meme that perfectly describes your life? Triggered! It’s a good thing that dealing with those situations are easy. Do you know what’s a little more difficult to deal with? If you’re triggered by allergens or something in the environment that causes your body to have an allergic reaction.
Here are some common allergy triggers and ways how to deal with them.
Pollen
You may notice that at certain times of the year, being near grass, trees, or weeds can make you sneeze, have a runny nose, or watery eyes. This may mean you have hay fever, a seasonal allergy, caused by pollens in the air.
You can avoid this by staying at home but sometimes, visitors or even your own pet can bring in microscopic parts of pollen.
Dust mites
Dust mites are microscopic insects that usually trigger allergy and asthma. They eat dead skin cells and thrive in humid places. They can be found anywhere in the house, most especially beddings, soft furnishings, pillows, mattresses, and even stuffed toys.
Cleaning thoroughly may help, as well as changing your beddings every ten days or so. If your condition hasn’t improved, you should consult your doctor or take allergy medication.
Animal Skin or Fur
No matter how cute our pets are, their dander or bits of fur or skin, can cause an allergic reaction. This is because proteins in your pet’s saliva or oil glands contain allergens. Luckily, there are ways to still leave peacefully with your pets without sneezing and coughing all the time.
Just make sure that you bathe them regularly and consider carpet-less floors, washable rugs. For fast relief of allergy symptoms, you may take a non-drowsy allergy medicine so you can enjoy more fun, cuddly times with your furry ones! M
Mold
Damp bathrooms and grass can trigger an allergic reaction, thanks to mold spores. One of the most important thing to remember is that mold needs moisture to grow. You can alleviate these symptoms by getting air in places in your house where mold can grow.
Food
The most common food allergens are milk, shellfish, eggs, and nuts. Some people are also allergic to wheat, soy, and fish. It only takes several minutes for your body to react after you have eaten these allergens. Symptoms may include trouble breathing and getting hives, vomiting, diarrhea, and swelling around the mouth.
For severe cases, you may need emergency medical help. For mild cases, a dosage of anti-allergy medication will come handy. Be sure to always bring some so that you can still enjoy your meal.
Latex
Natural rubber latex comes from the milky sap of rubber trees and the proteins in this substance causes an allergic reaction to some people. Natural rubber latex are used to make gloves, contraceptives, adhesive bandages, medical equipment, spandex, party balloons, and more.
Insect Stings
Insects inject venom when they sting the skin, causing severe allergic reaction! Watch out for bees, wasps, fire ants, or hornets! Insect repellents don’t work so just remember to have an allergy medicine in your first aid kit.
What to do when you’re triggered?
To know for sure which allergens trigger you, it’s best to consult your doctor. Skin tests may be performed in which a diluted form of allergen will be applied. If your skin flares up or reacts with a “wheal”—a raised, red, itchy bump, then it’s bad news for you. Don’t worry, you can still manage your symptoms!
For air allergens, you can use an air purifier but an easier alternative is to always have over-the-counter allergy medicine in stock. For an allergy medication that’s fast acting and non-drowsy, take Allerta! The best part is, it’s cheaper than other brands in the market!
If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.