Skip to content

Top Navigation

Health.com Health.com
  • Health Conditions A-Z
  • News
  • Coronavirus
  • Diet & Nutrition
  • Fitness
  • Beauty
  • Mind & Body
  • Lifestyle
  • Weight Loss
  • Newsletter
  • Promo

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences this link opens in a new tab
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Health.com

Health.com Health.com
  • Explore

    Explore

    • Is Your Doctor Gaslighting You? Here's What to Do

      How to handle a physician who doubts or dismisses your symptoms. Read More Next
    • 9 Signs It's More Serious Than the Common Cold

      Doctors explain how to tell if you have a head cold or something more serious that requires medical attention, such as the flu, strep throat, meningitis, or mono. Read More Next
    • How Your Period Changes During Your 20s, 30s, and 40s

      From easier cramps to a heavier flow, here's a guide on what to expect decade by decade. Read More Next
  • Health Conditions A-Z

    Health Conditions A-Z

    See All Health Conditions A-Z

    12 Anxiety Symptoms That Might Point to a Disorder

    The symptoms of anxiety can be hard to detect. Here are the ones you need to pay attention to, and how to know if you may have an anxiety disorder.
    • Allergies
    • Anxiety
    • Birth Control
    • Breast Cancer
    • Coronavirus
    • Chronic Pain
    • Cold, Flu, and Sinus
    • Depression
    • Digestive Health
    • Diabetes (Type 2)
    • Eczema
    • Eye Health
    • Fibromyalgia
    • Heart Disease
    • Headaches and Migraines
    • Oral Health
    • Pregnancy
    • Psoriasis
    • Sexual Health
    • Skin Conditions
    • Sleep
    • Thyroid
  • News

    News

    See All News

    Shannen Doherty Reveals Stage 4 Breast Cancer Diagnosis—Here's What It Means

    "I'm petrified," the actress said when she shared the news that her breast cancer came back. Here's why a stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis can be so frightening.
    • Celebrities
  • Coronavirus
  • Diet & Nutrition

    Diet & Nutrition

    The Best (and Worst) Diets of 2020, According to Experts

    FYI: The keto diet is not number one.
    • Food
    • Nutrition
    • Vitamins and Supplements
    • Groceries
    • Restaurants
    • Diets
    • Keto Diet
    • Mediterranean Diet
    • Whole30
    • Recipes
  • Fitness

    Fitness

    See All Fitness

    10 Moves for a Cardio Workout at Home—No Equipment Required

    Stay in your living room and still spike your heart rate.
    • Cardio Workouts
    • Strength Training
    • Yoga
    • Ab Workouts
    • Arm Workouts
    • Leg Workouts
    • Butt Workouts
    • Fitness Gear
  • Beauty

    Beauty

    See All Beauty

    These 13 Women Prove Every Body Is a Bikini Body

    We're loving their inspirational, body-positive messages.
    • Skincare
    • Makeup
    • Hair
    • Nails
  • Mind & Body

    Mind & Body

    See All Mind & Body

    Why Do People Lie? We Asked an Expert

    Here's the truth about lying.
    • Body Positivity
    • Self-Care
    • Misdiagnosed
    • Invisible Illness
    • LGBTQ+ Health
    • Health Diversity and Inclusion
    • Resolution Reboot
  • Lifestyle

    Lifestyle

    20 Things You Should Throw Away for Better Health

    Clean out expired products and clutter to make way for a healthier you.
    • Healthy Home
    • Pets
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Style
    • Holidays
    • Sex
    • Gifts
    • Money
    • Tech
    • Medicare
    • Best Life Now
  • Weight Loss
  • Newsletter
  • Promo

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences this link opens in a new tab
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home Chevron Right
  2. Allergies Chevron Right
  3. Your 12 Worst Allergy Mistakes

Your 12 Worst Allergy Mistakes

By Anne Harding
August 25, 2017
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Credit: Getty Images
How to prevent and reduce allergy symptoms when pollen and outdoor allergens are making life miserable.
Start Slideshow

1 of 13

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Are you making allergies worse?

Seasonal allergies can be tough to beat, but luckily there are a few ways to alleviate the symptoms without a trip to the drugstore. Watch this video for five easy home remedies that will keep watery eyes, an itchy throat, and sneezing at bay!

1 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 13

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

You leave windows open

Credit: Getty Images

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.

2 of 13

3 of 13

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

You delay medication

Credit: Getty Images
  • 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."

3 of 13

Advertisement

4 of 13

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

You ignore pollen counts

Credit: Getty Images
  • "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.

4 of 13

5 of 13

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

You exercise at the wrong time

Credit: Getty Images

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.

5 of 13

6 of 13

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

You undermine your air purifier

Credit: Alen
  • Room air purifiers and filters are an extremely effective way to remove pollen, animal dander, dust, and other allergens from indoor air. (Find out how to buy the right air cleaner.)
  • But unless you close the doors and windows in the room where you're using one, it's basically useless because they’re only meant to filter room-size areas—not your entire house, or the great outdoors.

6 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 13

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Your EpiPen is expired

Credit: Getty Images

If you need to carry an EpiPen (an auotinjector) because you’re at high risk of a serious allergic reaction, check every year to make sure its expiration date hasn’t passed, and replace it if it has, Dr. Rosenstreich says.

It's also a bad idea to keep your EpiPen in the car, where it can be exposed to temperature extremes that make it less effective.

Be sure to learn how to use it properly, Dr. Rosenstreich advises. "You don’t want to start reading the label in the middle of an attack." Finally, he adds, be aware that once the safety cap is off, the needle will inject anything it touches.

7 of 13

8 of 13

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

You’ve got clutter

Credit: Getty Images

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.

8 of 13

9 of 13

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

You ignore symptoms

Adults can become allergic to pets or pollen after years of allergy-free living.

If you need antibiotics for sinusitis every spring, you may have a pollen allergy, says Dr. Nguyen, who recommends a visit to the allergist. "Repeated use of antibiotics is not necessary, can lead to drug allergy, and doesn’t help the pollen allergy," she says.

You can become allergic to a pet and not know it because symptoms are subtle and chronic. If you’ve got allergy-ish symptoms that never go away, get it checked out.

9 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 13

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

You’re down with down

Credit: Getty Images

Love that cozy comforter? It might be trouble, particularly if you’ve had it for a long time.

Feathers can be very allergenic, and become even more so as they age and break down, says Dr. Rosenstreich. "I’ll have people tell me, 'I’ve had this feather pillow for 40 years, I brought it from Romania, it's never bothered me before,'" he adds. "That’s precisely the point."

Synthetic pillow stuffing, like polyester fiberfill, is a better choice for people with allergies. You can make your pillows even less sneeze-inducing by getting dust mite-proof covers for them (and while you’re at it, for your mattress).

10 of 13

11 of 13

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

You sleep with your pet

Credit: Getty Images

It may seem sweet to snooze with your pup or kitty at night, but it's not a great idea if you have allergies.

Even if you’re not allergic to animals, pets can bring in pollen, dust, mold, and other allergens from the outdoors, Dr. Rosenstreich notes. It’s best to avoid letting your dog or cat hang out on your bed.

"Your bedroom should essentially be an allergy-free zone," he says. For the same reason, you’re better off with bare floors in the bedroom, or only using a rug or two that you can throw in the wash periodically.

11 of 13

12 of 13

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

You get a hypoallergenic pet

Credit: Getty Images
  • Sorry folks, but there's no such animal as a truly hypoallergenic pet. (Beyond a snake or lizard.)
  • While some breeds are said to be less allergy-inducing than others, experts say any furry animal can cause symptoms in susceptible individuals.
  • Even hairless cats and dogs are allergenic; it's not the fur that makes people sneeze, but flakes of skin called dander and proteins found in the animals' saliva and urine.

12 of 13

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 13

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

You think a bird is OK

Credit: Getty Images

People can be allergic to birds, too, Dr. Rosenstreich warns.

"A single big bird can cause a lot of problems for people, and often they will not realize it because allergy can take a long time to develop," he says.

Allergists advise against living with an animal if you're allergic to it. If you can't or don’t want to find a new home for your beloved pet, consider allergy shots, which can help reduce symptoms in some people.

13 of 13

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Anne Harding

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 13 Are you making allergies worse?
2 of 13 You leave windows open
3 of 13 You delay medication
4 of 13 You ignore pollen counts
5 of 13 You exercise at the wrong time
6 of 13 You undermine your air purifier
7 of 13 Your EpiPen is expired
8 of 13 You’ve got clutter
9 of 13 You ignore symptoms
10 of 13 You’re down with down
11 of 13 You sleep with your pet
12 of 13 You get a hypoallergenic pet
13 of 13 You think a bird is OK

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Login

Health.com

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • About Us
  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact us
  • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
Health.com is part of the Meredith Health Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved. The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, probable diagnosis, or recommended treatments. All products and services featured are selected by our editors. Health.com may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.health.com

View image

Your 12 Worst Allergy Mistakes
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.