Three basic treatment options exist for allergy sufferers:1. Allergy Medication

2. Immunotherapy (Allergy Shots)

3. Environmental Control

What Is Environmental Control?

Environmental control requires a bit of work on your part - it’s not quite as easy as swallowing a pill or getting a shot - but it is the most effective treatment for allergies. If you can control your environment and avoid your allergens, then you will not experience allergy symptoms. It’s that simple!

Environmental control may involve frequent vacuuming with a HEPA-filtered vacuum cleaner, encasing your mattress and pillows with special allergy relief bedding, running an air purifier, wearing a mask, or placing a dehumidifier in your basement. Your environmental control plan depends on the specific allergens to which you are allergic.

What Causes Allergy Symptoms?

Allergy symptoms appear after a sensitive individual is exposed to allergens. The most common allergens are proteins from plants and animals (although some people may be allergic to certain chemicals). Once an allergen makes its way inside the body, it sets off a chemical chain reaction within the immune system of sensitive individuals. This chain reaction, which includes the release of histamine and other inflammatory chemicals, leads to allergy symptoms - sneezing, watery eyes, congestion, etc.

How Do I Discover My Specific Allergens?

Before you can formulate an environmental control plan, you must know the substances that cause your allergy symptoms.

You should visit an allergist or ENT physician for allergy testing. In the most common method of allergy testing, an allergy technician pricks the skin with a tiny needle to insert a small amount of the allergen. If the patient is allergic, then the site of the skin prick will become red and swollen.

As another option that’s more cost-effective and convenient, you can use MyAllergy Test in your own home. This easy-to-use kit allows you to collect a sample of blood (using a finger stick lancet) and send it to a lab for allergy testing. MyAllergy Test shows if you’re allergic to timothy grass, bermuda grass, mountain cedar, short ragweed, mold, milk, egg whites, wheat, cat dander, and dust mites. If you want more extensive testing, you should make an appointment with an allergist.

Once you know your specific allergens, then you can start implementing environmental controls to help you avoid exposure to your allergens.

Dust Mite Allergy

Like villains in a microscopic sci-fi movie, dust mites are everywhere. They can live inside automobiles, deep within carpet fibers, and on furniture. Since dust mites feed on dead human skin, they tend to hang out where the shed skin collects: in the fibers of your bedding, mattress, and pillows. That’s why it’s vitally important to encase your bed with allergy relief bedding, also known as dust mite encasings. These encasings will keep dust mites from invading your bed. See the Allergy Relief Bedding Buying Guide to learn more.

You should also vacuum frequently with a HEPA-filtered vacuum cleaner. Vacuuming alone will not suck up all the dust mites, but it will take away their food. To kill dust mites in carpet, use anti-allergenic carpet powders and sprays. We also recommend using anti-allergenic laundry detergents and additives to kill dust mites and denature allergens in your laundry, especially if you normally wash your laundry in cold water. (Water must be very hot in order to kill dust mites, but you can kill them in a cold water wash by using de-mite laundry additive or Allergen Wash.)

If you have a dust mite allergy, you should monitor your relative humidity. Dust mites like warm, humid environments, and they cannot thrive if you keep the relative humidity below 50 percent. Monitor your humidity with a humidity gauge. If necessary, you can lower the humidity in your home with a dehumidifier.

Finally, although an air purifier won’t eliminate the actual dust mites, it will eliminate excess dust in your home. To reduce dust mite populations, it’s important to keep your home free of dust and clutter. If you can, replace carpet with hardwood floors and low-pile area rugs.

Stuffed animals also harbor dust mites. You can kill dust mites on small items like stuffed animals by placing them out in the sun for several hours or by putting them in the freezer over night. Or, you can buy washable toys like Gund Stuffed Animals.

Mold Allergy

As with dust mites, it’s impossible to get rid of every single mold spore in your home. They’re everywhere! However, using environmental control measures, you can greatly reduce the number of mold spores in your home and thereby reduce the frequency and severity of your allergy symptoms.

Like dust mites, mold requires a warm, humid environment for growth. Monitor the humidity in your home with a humidity gauge, and keep the humidity below 50 percent using a dehumidifier.

For protection while you’re sleeping, Allergy Armor allergy relief bedding features a special antimicrobial finish that prevents mold growth.

Use M-1 Sure Cote Mold & Mildew Resistant Sealant to clean up mold around your home and prevent future growth. AllerMold and Vital Oxide are two additional household cleaners that are effective against mold but safe for your family and the environment.

Be careful when cleaning mold! If the growth is significant, you’ll want to wear a mask, along with gloves and goggles.

HEPA air purifiers and HEPA vacuum cleaners also capture mold spores and remove them from your environment.

Pet Dander Allergy

We’ve already discussed several products that will help you avoid pet dander in your home; these products include allergy relief bedding, air purifiers, and HEPA vacuum cleaners. Allergy Armor Ultra bedding, for instance, blocks animal dander from your bed. Other products specially made for pet allergies include the Dyson DC17 Animal vacuum and the Austin Air Pet Machine air purifier.

If you own a pet, we also offer items to help you keep your pet’s dander to a minimum, including the Pet Brush vacuum Attachment and Ecology Works Pet Allergy Shampoo. See all Pet Allergy products for more suggestions.

Of course, if you’re severely allergic to a specific animal, the best advice is to stay away from that animal. If you cannot avoid spending time with an allergenic animal, try avoid touching your face, and wash your hands (or better yet, shower) as soon as possible. And keep all pets out of your bedroom!

Pollen Allergy

The main problem with pollen allergy is that you can’t go outside and vacuum up all the pollen, nor can you stick an air purifier in your backyard and expect it to have any affect on the pollen level. When dealing with a pollen allergy, it’s best to wear a mask outdoors. Watch your local pollen count and try to stay inside when the pollen counts are high. Once you get inside, shower as soon as possible.

Indoors, you can use HEPA vacuums and air purifiers to capture pollen grains. Be aware that pollen will find its way inside your home any time a door opens or window opens. If you want to get some fresh air without the pollen, put a Safeguard Window Filter on your window.

Sinus and nasal irrigation products also work well for pollen allergy sufferers because the saline washes away pollen grains in the nasal passages. The SinuPulse Elite is the world’s most advanced nasal irrigation system, but a simple neti pot works well, too.

Cat Allergy Symptoms: Are You Constantly Sneezing Around Your Feline Friend?It isn’t hard to know if you are allergic to cats. Many people already know for sure that they are definitely allergic, although they have never gone to see an allergist. The cues to this are easy. Whenever a cat is in the area, they have a bad allergic reaction.

It doesn’t take a genius to deduct that the cat is the one causing this discomfort. What are Cat Allergy Symptoms, and what do you do to rid them without getting rid of your pet?

Some Symptoms To Look Out For

When coming in contact with a cat or cat fur, sneezing uncontrollably or watery eyes are the most common symptoms that you have a cat allergy. Depending on the severity of the allergy, you may have symptoms that are worse than the ones already mentioned.

Some people can have such bad Allergies that they require immediate medical attention. When these symptoms are that severe, they must avoid contact with cats altogether.

If you don’t want to get rid of your cat and you are having the cat allergy symptoms there may be certain medicines or supplements that you may take to lessen the severity of your attacks. If you have tried many things and still find no relief, you may have to give your cat to a family member or friend.

Don’t worry, your friend or family member will take good care of your pet. You may also want to have another family adopt your pet if knowing a family member has it brings you stress.

Do remember, your cat allergy is not the fault of the cat. Your body and your system simply are exhibiting symptoms when you are near the cat. It does not signal that you should no longer love the cat.

Cat allergy symptoms are never fun in most cases, but if not that bad; you may want to try treatments, or medicines to allow you to keep your pet. If you cannot take anything that helps you, the only other choice is to give the cat away to a loving home. Being allergy free might mean that you have to give up your pet, but if you give it to a loving home, then you still love your pet. You are just taking care of yourself as well.

Cat Allergies and Your Friendly FelineA favorite pastime worldwide is owning and caring for pets. Many grow close to their pets and consider them a family member. Choosing a pet depends on many factors. Where are you going to live, how much space do you have available, what kind of climate do you have, and finally, what are your personal likes and personal preference.

Pets range from many different animals. While some may choose a snake, rabbit, bird or lizard, many prefer the more common pets: dogs and cats. Many, who would otherwise choose a cat, will not due to allergies. Cat Allergies can vary from mild to severe. So it is most important to take care when you are around cats.

Coping with Cat Allergies

Forty percent of people who suffer from asthma also have cat allergies and are much more sensitive to these creatures than to dogs.

A protein found in the cat’s skin and saliva is the major problem for this allergy. When the cat licks his fun to clean himself, he deposits this protein onto his fur. Therefore this causes the reaction in sensitive people.

An allergen can promote a reaction–dust mites, pollen, and animal dander. The cat hair itself is not the cause of the reaction, but it is the protein in the dander and the saliva. When the allergens are airborne, the symptoms begin.

No cats are known to be hypoallergenic, however; male cats do cause more allergic reactions because of the testosterone increasing in the cat’s glands. This in turn increases the protein. The cat allergens are found mainly in homes where the cats live, but are also found in offices and places where animals are not allowed.

This protein is sticky and can be carried on the clothing of people from place to place. The particles causing the cat allergies can remain in air for long periods of time, and those who are sensitive are more likely to have a quick reaction when going into a room where there is a cat or multiple cats.

Wheezing, the most common symptom of cat allergy, begins upon entrance to a room with cats. There are also more subtle, delayed reactions that can linger to up to a week or more. Chronic asthma can be an ongoing malady for those who are exposed often. Hives and eczema may also occur. Be safe, if allergic to cats, don’t be in their presence. It is better to maintain good health and be aware of the symptoms of your allergy. By yourself a dog!

Can It Be Cured? In A Word, NO! But It Can Be Endured Learn More Below Instantly!You walk into a room and there it confronts you. The feline nightmare: Instantly panic strikes, your breathing is hampered and anxiety hits you as your eyes start to water. You’ve been hit by a cat allergy!

These symptoms are by no means alone they have companions that cover a multitude of sins including sinus pain, hives, runny nose maybe even itching. All these come in groups and take you unaware and suddenly.

Don’t worry there are no cats present in this article just some solid advice on what to do if you suffer from cat allergy, what causes the majority of cases and a possible(?) cure.

What causes these awful reactions anyway? For a long time it was thought that the fur of animals was the irritant, it is not! It is a substance called a protein. Now without getting all technical this is present in Dander and Saliva. They can be airborne and microscopic. This is why they attack the lungs and nasal passages, they are breathed in.

What is an allergy? This is where the body over reacts to a foreign body on this occasion the Dander. Part of the bodies defence is to produce Histamines these help it fight what it thinks are diseases. When the body goes into overdrive and produces too much Histamine an allergic reaction occurs.

Can I catch An Allergy? No, not strictly catch. What does happen is that, even if you have not suffered before, your body has to produce enough of these Histamine antibodies to cause the reaction. This can take years to do or if the hit is big enough a few hours.

Are There Any Other Symptoms Than Those Mentioned Before? I have included a list of the most common reactions for you:

Throat Symptoms Itching Hoarseness Need to clear the throat often.

Eye Symptoms Redness Itching Swelling Watering

Skin Symptoms Itchy rash Hives

Ear Symptoms Itching Plugging Popping

There are more serious symptoms that involve the lungs Coughing Wheezing Frequent coughing Tightness of the chest Bronchitis Shortness of breath

These are by no means all the symptoms but the most frequent and common. Remember if you suspect an allergy no matter how mild always seek proper medical assistance.

Is there anything that can be done?

In the extreme circumstances the rehousing of the cat is the only real option. In nearly all other cases there is the possibility that something called Immunotherapy. Put simply this is where you slowly increase the exposure to the problem until such time as the symptoms stop. That is each time your body reacts the reaction gets less as you are more use to the irritant than previous times of exposure. Thus increasing your tolerance to the allergens. Due to the fact that this method treats the cause but does not hide the symptoms it is one of the most effective treatments there is.

If the cat needs to be rehoused then please rehouse it. Do not simply put an indoor cat outdoors. This is just not right. An indoor cat will be terrified outdoors as it has no experience of the big outdoor world and at the end of the day it was not the cats fault you had an allergic reaction was it?

Conclusion. Hopefully this has explained a few things in relation to cat allergies to you and painted a clearer picture about the causes, the symptoms, and a possible cure? As with all things medical if you are in doubt please go and seek proper, professional help regarding the condition. This article is only intended to inform of the problem of cat allergies and give a possible help to those that suffer from it.

Cats are one of the most loved pets in the world, no question about it. More than 50% of all households in the United States own dogs and cats. Although cats are loved animals, cat allergies are one of the common forms of allergies. Statistics in the past have shown that over 10 million people in the U.S. alone have allergic reactions to cats - especially their fur.The biggest cause of cat allergies is dander. The dander, is dust that is produced by the body of the cat. Dander is basically shed skin that comes off of cats, normally in the form of small flakes. Although dander can irritate your skin, it can also get into your immune system as well, resulting in a variety of symptoms and almost immediate allergic reactions.

The dander, once in the immune system, is perceived to be a threat. Even though it isn’t classified as a disease, it’s more of a reflex by your body and your immune system. Cat allergies occur quite often due to cats having allergens that are spread throughout their blood, urine, and saliva. Although a cat may not be present at the time, the excretions probably still are.

Cat dander, urine, and saliva, are found throughout the home of cat owners. Cats constantly groom themselves, which involves rubbing their saliva into their fur. When they do this, they spread their dander and allergens around. Although you may try, there is really nothing that you can do about it. Cats have a natural instinct to groom or bathe themselves, no matter how many baths you give them, you simply won’t stop them from grooming.

Normally, when someone is taking an allergic reaction to cats, he or she will wheeze, cough, sneeze, itch, have watery eyes, or a difficult time in breathing. Different people react different ways to cat allergens, meaning that some symptoms may not occur at all. Fever and chills is very rare, although it can happen. If someone who has cat allergies comes down with fever and chills, you should contact a doctor immediately. Chances are, it isn’t an allergic reaction to cats, but instead another type of disease that a doctor will need to identify.

Cat allergies are normally treated with antihistamines and decongestants. Those that experience asthma attacks or other forms of allergies, normally take antihistamines. Decongestants on the other hand, are normally used to cure coughs and swollen nasal passages. Sometimes, doctors will recommend allergy shots as well. Allergy shots can help to prevent the attack, especially if someone is really allergic to cats. They are a good form of treatment and prevention, and they can also help to decrease the risk of allergies affecting the individual.

If you suspect that you have cat allergies, you should always make it a point to visit your doctor. He will be able to further diagnose your situation, and give you the best options available for treatment. If you do indeed suffer from cat allergies, the best way to stop the attacks is to get rid of your cat.

Getting rid of a cat can be a very tough thing to do. If you have become allergic to your cat’s fur, there may be no other way to prevent attacks than to get rid of him. Although doctors can give you medicine and shots, it will only do so much. Cat allergens are no fun, especially if you develop them years after owning your cat. Cats are great animals to own - although cat allergies are something we could all live without.