Home Treatment
The first thing a person who has allergic rhinitis must know is that this disease is a chronic disorder, and therefore one must be patient in consistently changing lifestyle behaviors, and not expecting immediate results.
As in any allergy, the first principle to treat allergy symptoms is always to avoid the item one is allergic too, or at least minimize one's exposure to it. A side benefit to this action is that one can manage the disease with fewer allergy medications, and thereby decrease the associated side effects of those medications. Four main actions which one can take to minimize one's exposure to the allergen are the following:
1. Controlling dust and dust mites. As dust mites are ubiquitous, the goal is not to eliminate but reduce. Regular dusting and washing of linens in hot water are the two most critical strategie.
2. Controlling animal dander and other pet allergens, which includes restricting pets to certain areas of your home or frequent shampooing of pets.
3. Controlling indoor molds, which includes cleaning bathtubs and showers at least monthly, and sinks/toilet bowls more frequently.
4. Avoiding outdoor pollens. While this again is not always feasible, it is reasonable to reduce one's exposure by listening or reading the local news and noting when the pollen counts are high. One should stay in doors during these times, or minimize the amount of time spent outside. Air conditioning and air purifiers are also very helpful in reducing exposure to outdoor pollens.
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