![]() ![]() Ask a family member or friend without allergies to bathe your pet on a weekly basis. If you keep your pet, you can help minimize the allergens in your home with these tips: HEPA air purifiers also may reduce airborne pet allergens. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters for your air ducts may trap allergens in the air, and high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuum bags may reduce the amount of dander rustled up by your cleaning. If you can't replace your mattress and box spring, encase them in allergen-blocking covers. Replace sheets, blankets and other bedcovers, because it's difficult to wash away pet allergens completely. If possible, replace carpeting, particularly in your bedroom. Move upholstered furniture from your bedroom into another area of your home. Replace upholstered furniture if possible, as cleaning won't remove all pet allergens from upholstery. Replace or move upholstered furniture.Have someone without pet allergies clean the entire house, including a thorough washing of the ceilings and walls. The following steps can help lower pet allergen levels in a newly pet-free home: Even after a thorough cleaning, your house may have significant levels of pet allergens for several weeks or months. If you do find a new home for your pet, your allergy symptoms won't disappear immediately. Be sure to rinse the irrigation device after each use with contaminant-free water, and leave open to air-dry. If you're preparing the saline solution yourself, use water that's contaminant-free - distilled, sterile, previously boiled and cooled, or filtered with a filter that has an absolute pore size of 1 micron or smaller. You can use a neti pot or a specially designed squeeze bottle to flush thickened mucus and irritants from your sinuses with a prepared saltwater (saline) rinse. Immunotherapy is usually used when other simple treatments aren't satisfactory. Maintenance shots are needed every four weeks for 3 to 5 years. The dose is gradually increased, usually during a 4- to 6-month period. One to 2 weekly shots expose you to very small doses of the allergen, in this case, the animal protein that causes an allergic reaction. ![]() Immunotherapy is delivered through a series of allergy shots. You can "train" your immune system not to be sensitive to an allergen. Less common side effects include behavior or mood changes, such as anxiousness or depression. Possible side effects of montelukast include upper respiratory infection, headache and fever. Your doctor may prescribe montelukast (Singulair), a prescription tablet, if corticosteroid nasal sprays or antihistamines are not good options for you. Leukotriene modifiers block the action of certain immune system chemicals. If you use a decongestant spray for more than three days in a row, it can contribute to congestion. Over-the-counter decongestants taken as a nasal spray may briefly reduce allergy symptoms. Talk to your doctor about whether you can safely take a decongestant. Oral decongestants can increase blood pressure and generally shouldn't be taken if you have high blood pressure, glaucoma or cardiovascular disease. Some over-the-counter allergy tablets combine an antihistamine with a decongestant. Nasal corticosteroids provide a low dose of the drug and have a much lower risk of side effects than do oral corticosteroids.ĭecongestants can help shrink swollen tissues in your nasal passages and make it easier to breathe through your nose. These drugs include fluticasone propionate (Flonase Allergy Relief), mometasone furoate (Nasonex), triamcinolone (Nasacort Allergy 24HR) and ciclesonide (Omnaris). Corticosteroids delivered as a nasal spray can reduce inflammation and control symptoms of hay fever.Prescription antihistamine tablets, such as levocetirizine (Xyzal) and desloratadine (Clarinex), are other options. Over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamine tablets include fexofenadine (Allegra Allergy), loratadine (Claritin, Alavert) and cetirizine (Zyrtec Allergy) over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamine syrups are available for children. Prescription antihistamines taken as a nasal spray include azelastine (Astelin, Astepro) and olopatadine (Patanase). Your doctor may direct you to take one of the following medications to improve nasal allergy symptoms:Īntihistamines reduce the production of an immune system chemical that is active in an allergic reaction, and they help relieve itching, sneezing and runny nose. ![]()
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