Allergy FAQ

Follow the links below to determine days to avoid or minimize outside activity exposure:

https://www.AAAAI.org/global/nab-pollen-counts/south-central-region

and 

https://www.pollen.com/forecast

Outdoor Allergens
1. Don't allow smoking at home and at work. Smoke only provoke allergies.
2. Don’t dry clothes outdoors. Pollen may bond to fabric.
3. Don't move just to avoid allergies. It may be a cause for you to develop new ones in your new home.
4. Don’t rake leaves as this also stirs up molds.
5. If you have hay fever, it is recommended to stay indoors when pollen is high. Avoid woods, gardens and parks during the allergy season. Save errands after it rains of for late afternoon. Pollen is worst during dry windy days and early hours.
6. If you garden, avoid choosing plants, grass, weeds and trees with tiny flowers.
7. If you're allergic to molds, plan outdoor activities when the weather is dry and hot.
8. Let others do the mowing. If there's no one else to do it, wear a mask when you mow.
9. Take into consideration your allergies when planning a vacation. Ask your doctor to recommend a spot where the source of your allergy isn’t in bloom during your trip.
10. Try to keep your home and car windows closed.
11. Wash the pollen right out of your hair. Shower and shampoo regularly.

Indoor Allergens
12. When choosing a pet, remember that a dog is safer than a cat. Fish are even better.
13. If you decide to have a dog or cat, select a short-haired breed without a thick undercoat.
14. Wash animals regularly. Try to keep them away from your bedroom.
15. Avoid comforters, pillows and similar products filled with down or feathers.
16. Indoor mildew and molds develop in humid environments. Use a cleaning solution that contains 5% bleach and a small amount of detergent to easily remove molds and mildew once you discover them.
17. To lessen humidity in your home, use air conditioning to clean, dehumidify and recirculate the air. You may also use in-home HEPA filters to help reduce indoor allergens.
18. If you are allergic to dust mites, lower the humidity in your home. Eliminate carpeting as much as possible and replace them with hard flooring, including tile and wood.
19. Enclose pillows, mattress and box springs in plastic barrier cloth.
20. Change your air filters in heating and air conditioning systems monthly and/or install an air purifier, preferably with a HEPA filter.

Tips for Children with Seasonal Allergies
There’s a lot of things you can do to make your child’s world less allergenic. Here are some handy tips.
For Seasonal Allergies
1. Reduce Plant Materials
Pollen is the primary cause of seasonal allergies. In the United States, trees account for 10% of all allergies, grasses account for about 30% and ragweed accounts for nearly 60%. Keep trees and shrubs pruned, and get rid of all unnecessary vegetation, including decorative bouquets and houseplants.
2. Keep Windows Closed
Pollen is carried by the wind, and it’s in the air everywhere. Keep windows closed even if there are no pollen-producing plants nearby.  Air conditioners filter allergens out of the air as they keep you cool.
3. Change Filters Regularly
Air conditioning and furnace filers take many allergens out of the air. However, they build up on the filters. Change filters once a month to filter them out and keep them out.

For All Other Types of Allergies

1. Eliminate Dust-Collectors
Clutter and knickknacks collect dust and are difficult to clean. Remove unnecessary objects and display valuables in a glass case since it's easier to clean.
2. Keep Bedding Clean
More than 1/3 of your child’s life is spent in the bedroom, so it's important to keep it clean. Wash bedding in hot water weekly. Use allergen-proof cases for mattresses and pillows and consider removing wall-to-wall carpeting. Minimize the use of heavy draperies or blinds because they take a lot of dust.

How do I know I am allergic to a certain food?
An estimate of up to 2 million or 8% of children in the United States are said to be affected by food allergy, and up to 2% of adults have food allergies. With a true food allergy, a person's immune system will react to an ordinarily harmless food. Often, food allergy may appear in an individual who has family members with allergies, and symptoms may take place after that allergic individual consumes even a small amount of food.
Food intolerance is occasionally confused with food allergy. Food intolerance is an abnormal response to a food or food additive, but is not an allergic reaction. It differs from an allergy in a way that it does not involve the immune system. For example, a person may have uncomfortable abdominal symptoms after consuming milk. This reaction is most likely caused by lactose intolerance, in which the individual lacks the enzymes to break down milk sugar for proper digestion.
Food allergens are usually proteins. Most of these allergens can still cause reactions even after they are cooked or have undergone digestion. Plenty of food proteins have been studied to establish allergen content.
The most common food allergens that are responsible for up to 90% of all allergic reactions are the proteins in eggs, wheat, cow’s milk, peanuts, soy, fish, tree nuts and shellfish.