Learn the worst allergy mistakes that we are doing. Check out the article we found over at Health Mag.

Allergies are the worst. A stuffy nose, itchy eyes, coughing, and other allergy symptoms can make life a misery.

But is your own cluelessness contributing to the problem?

Here are the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to allergies, and the smart ways to avoid them. There, don’t you feel better already?

1. You’ve got clutter

Stuffed animals are cute, cuddly, and unfortunately, major magnets for dust, a common allergy trigger.

If your child has piles of fluffy friends, and he or she—or anyone in the household—has allergies, you’re better off storing or giving them away. (Many charities collect stuffed animals to give to needy kids, or even as puppy play toys.)

It’s best to limit youngsters to a select few, which can be occasionally washed, rather than a whole collection, Dr. Rosenstreich says.

2. You leave windows open

Make it a rule to keep your windows closed and the air conditioner on when it’s pollen season.

Be sure to set the AC to “recirculate,” and if it’s not hot outside, you can keep it in filter-only mode. Using an air conditioner in your car can cut the amount of pollen you breathe by as much as 30%, says Myngoc Nguyen, MD, chief of allergy at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Northern California.

3. You delay medication

As seasons change, plants spew pollen. So try to anticipate and treat yourself before that happens. Same goes if you know you’ll be visiting a cat-loving friend, and felines are your worst symptom trigger.

“These medications almost all work better to prevent allergy symptoms than they do to treat them, so people should not wait until they’re having symptoms to start taking their medicines,” says David Rosenstreich, MD, the director of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York.

Same with asthma. Don’t skip controller meds until you’re short of breath. “It’s easier to fix the problems when they’re mild.”

4. You ignore pollen counts

“People should make an effort to be aware of the pollen count and when the pollens are out that bother them,” says Dr. Rosenstreich.

Check out pollen.com to find out exactly when allergy season begins in your area.

You can also use the site to look up four-day allergy forecasts for your zip code, and sign up to get allergy alerts by email. The more information you have, the better prepared you’ll be to manage your symptoms.

5. You exercise at the wrong time

If you love an outdoor workout, avoid the morning or early afternoon, says Dr. Nguyen.

Grasses and trees start releasing pollen at sunrise, with levels peaking in the late morning and early afternoon. “I always suggest people run after work in the late afternoon or evening,” she says.

Exercising when pollen counts are lower, Dr. Rosenstreich agrees, “can make an enormous difference.” And if pollen counts are going to be high on a given day, opt for a less strenuous workout.

 

Read full article: Your 12 Worst Allergy Mistakes