The first product is sinus sprays or nasal sprays. Both are used to prevent and relieve signs and symptoms of allergies such as allergic rhinitis (hay fever). Hay fever is a term often used by doctors to describe the type of allergies that occur from allergic reactions to substances in the air (i.e. pollen, ragweed, etc.) If you are suffering from an itchy, runny nose, nasal stuffiness, and sneezing, a sinus spray can help your condition. Sprays can drastically reduce the reaction of the nasal tissues to the allergens that are breathed through your nose. This is a big relief as the swelling in your nose will be reduced and you will be less stuffy. Sinus sprays are available both over-the-counter and through a prescription from your doctor. Not only will nasal sprays reduce allergy symptoms, but they also help relieve the symptoms that are associated with the common cold – runny nose, sneezing, etc.

Another product that helps battle allergy symptoms is allergy masks. Masks work the same way as indoor air purifiers. They filter out airborne particles and allergens that can trigger allergies and asthma attacks. Examples of allergens that allergy masks filter out include pollen, pet dander, mold, cigarette smoke, and dust mites. Some masks can even protect against substances such as arsenic, chemical air fresheners, paint, soaps, perfumes, and cleaning agents. Protective masks are most commonly used during the fall months, when airborne alleges such as pollen and ragweed are very prominent. There are all different types of masks available. The single most important factor in finding the right mask for you is to understand what type of filtration the mask provides. Cold weather masks are used to protect people with asthma by warming the air before they breathe it. HEPA masks provide the greatest filtration. Air pollution masks filter fumes and other harmful contaminants. To find one that is best for your situation you should consult your doctor and read reviews and information online.

As previously mentioned, pet dander and dust mites are two of the most common types of allergens that affect people. Allergy preventive products are available to help combat these allergens and help you live in a more comfortable environment. Allergy free bedding (also known as dust mite bedding) is commonly used to prevent dust mites and pet dander in your bed, but allergy free products also prevent buildup of pollen and mold. Dust mites and other household allergens are very tiny and cannot be seen with the human eye. They easily slip through the pores in your bedding material. In fact, the average bed is home to between one and ten million dust mites. Allergy free products are made by weaving very small pores so that dust mites cannot penetrate through, blocking their food source. Once the dust mites have no food, they will soon die. Using special bedding offers an array of advantages. The bed covers protect the entire bed, creating a physical barrier between you and the allergens. It is estimated that about 80% of people in the United States that suffer from allergies, are allergic to dust mites. Using allergy proof bedding will help you wake up in the morning feeling refreshed, no longer having itchy eyes, runny nose, and uncontrollable sneezing. Also, you will sleep more soundly without waking up in the middle of the night with sneezing attacks. Even if you don’t have allergies, hypoallergenic bedding is a worthwhile investment as you will be protecting yourself from an environment of microscopic organisms.

Note: It is highly recommended that you check with your doctor before using any of these products.

Air purifiers are a perfect solution to improving the air quality inside the home. Although primarily used to help rid the air of allergens, an air purifier also can be used to reduce or eliminate second hand tobacco smoke. Through a process that includes using fine sieves that filter particles from circulating air, purifiers are able to eliminate the harmful pollutants. The more times the air passes through the sieves, the more clean the air becomes. They come in a variety of different sizes and types with the most common being HEPA purifiers. The purifiers can substantially improve breathing conditions for people who suffer from allergies, asthma, or other sensitivities to air pollutants. Some of the allergens purifiers eliminate include dust mites, pollen, mold, and pet dander. With technology improvements, newer purifiers on the market today are capable of capturing a great number of DNA damaging, virus, and bacteria spreading contaminants. Air purifiers are also commonly used to get rid of second hand smoke indoors. Research has shown that of the 4,000 different chemicals found in secondhand smoke, 40 cause cancer. Exposure to second hand smoke not only increases cancer risk but also impairs lung functionality and efficiency. Choosing the right air purifier can be a daunting task that primarily depends on the unique needs of the consumer. It is important to do some research to find the correct product for your situation. There are various online resources that contain consumer reviews and comparison charts of the different types of purifiers.

Another product used to improve indoor air quality is humidifiers. These household appliances increase humidity levels or the moisture inside the home. The human body requires a certain level of humidity (moisture) in the atmosphere to function on a daily basis. If there isn’t enough humidity in the air, your skin and hair can get damaged. Besides the human body, lack of moisture can damage your home, such as furniture and electronics. Humidifiers work by evaporating the water (that you put into the appliance) into the air, thus increasing the humidity. Similar to air purifiers, a humidifier can come in different sizes, shapes, and forms. It is important to find the right humidifier for your unique needs. There are home humidifiers that humidify a single room, or there are whole-house ones that connect to a home’s HVAC system to increase the humidity level throughout the entire house. Some have added filters that collect harmful pollutants that reduce air contaminants that cause allergies and breathing problems. Humidifiers are used with infants and young children to help improve their breathing and reduce risk of infections caused by dry air.

Dehumidifiers are another product commonly used within the home to help with better air quality. They essentially are used to remove moisture from the air by condensing water onto a cold surface. They remove excessive moisture by drawing air over coils, condensing out the moisture, and then passing the air over warmer coils into the room. It is recommended that humidity level inside the home be under 55%. When the level gets over 55%, it increases the chances for bacteria, viruses, and mold to start growing. The moisture in the air creates an ideal atmosphere for germs to grow and start spreading. Not only could this cause damage to your indoor rooms and halls, but the germs can also get into your lungs and cause sickness. If a dehumidifier is needed in your home, it should be installed in the location where the most mold and mildew are present. Limiting the mold and mildew in your home will help with allergy symptoms. It is estimated that home dehumidifiers remove 10 to 15 pints of water from the air each day, depending on the humidity. Just like humidifiers and air purifiers, it is important to do some online research before find the right dehumidifier for your situation.

Start taking actions to improve the air quality in your home today!

-          Outdoor Allergies- These allergies are known as seasonal allergies because they are often triggered during a specific time of year.  The types of allergens associated with outdoor allergies include weed, pollen, ragweed, and grass.

-          Indoor Allergies- There are many allergens inside your home that trigger allergic reactions.  Some are dust mites, mold, and pet dander.

-          Food/Drug Allergies- These type of allergies stem from a result of the food you eat or the drugs you take.  The most typical food allergens are soy, wheat, peanuts, fish, and milk.  Penicillin tends to be the most common type of drug allergen.

-          Latex allergy- This is a type of allergy that affects those people that come in contact with latex.

-          Skin allergies- When some allergens come in contact with the skin, they can cause an allergic reaction that could cause itching or rashes among others.  Allergens that trigger skin allergies include poison plants such as poison oak and ivy.

If you suffer from one of these types of conditions, it’s important to know the allergy facts and allergens that my trigger reactions, and avoid them as best you can.

Information on how to deal with allergies is available not only through your local doctor’s office but also through internet. Many online forums and websites are dedicated specifically to selling allergy products and are full of helpful allergy product reviews. These reviews can help you pick a product that’s right for your unique situation. Some of the many allergy products available for purchase online include air purifiers, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, allergy masks, allergen free bedding, and furnace filters among others. One feature of online shopping that I personally find helpful when not only looking for allergy products but any product in general is sites that feature comparison shopping services. The idea behind these types of websites is relatively simple to understand. For example, if you are looking for air purifiers, you would type in air purifiers in the comparison shopping engine and it will give you results for products found on various online stores. This way you can sort through product results by quality, price, etc. These sites also feature many beneficial allergy product reviews to help you make your choice. Check these sites out when you make your next online purchase.

Using the internet in this case becomes your friend, as you are able to see what works for people and what didn’t work without leaving the house.  There are also consumer review websites, such as consumer search, that feature reviews of asthma products as well as other products you are interested in learning about.  Doing this pre-purchase research may seem like common sense, but many people fail to do it. Everyone’s conditions and symptoms are different, so it’s best to research and figure out the right solutions for your situation.  Studies have shown that consumers are greatly influenced by online reviews when making their product purchase decision.  In fact, many consumers will read reviews of asthma products online before talking with their doctor or purchasing one in a brick and mortar store.

There is no cure for asthma, as it’s a long term disease that requires long term care.  Read more about asthma to learn how to effectively manage the symptoms and even more important figure out if your symptoms are progressively getting worse.  An asthma action plan put together by you and your doctor can be a great way to manage the condition.  Follow a close schedule for the right medications and stay away from certain asthma triggers that could cause symptoms to start.  One asthma trigger is physical activity.  You should not avoid this trigger all together, but talk with your doctor about medicines that allow you to keep up with continued physical activity.  It’s very important to do continuous research and read more about asthma to live healthy and happy with the condition.

There is currently no cure for asthma, but many treatment options are available to help minimize asthma symptoms in day-to-day life; discuss options with a doctor to find the best fit for you.  It cannot be stressed enough that  if you or someone you know is suffering from asthma and it’s many symptoms, educating yourself is the most important part.  First, you want to make sure you visit your doctor.  Secondly, search online, visiting sites such as WebMD and youtube.com to find informational resources.  The internet truly is a useful tool.  For example, to help you learn how to use an inhaler and how inhalers treat asthma symptoms, check out online videos, primarily found on youtube.com and WebMD.