What can I do to reduce allergy symptoms

"Some allergy triggers are out of your control – a change of seasons or the pollen count. But there are many other allergy triggers you can avoid to reduce allergy symptoms," explains J. Brent Benton, MD, who practices family medicine at Baptist Medical Associates.

Decreasing exposure to dust can help greatly to decrease allergy symptoms. Dr. Benton recommends the following:

• Use air-conditioning to dehumidify the air and filter out 99 percent of all the pollen and allergen-producing materials.
• Keep your house cool (less than 70 degrees) and dry (less than 50 percent relative humidity).
• Use nonporous vacuum cleaner bags, and vacuum with a High Energy Particulate Arrester (HEPA) filter to help eliminate dust.
• Wash bed linens in hot water at least weekly to kill dust mites.
• Encase your mattress, box springs and pillow in a plastic zip-on cover or a special allergen-proof fabric cover to prevent dust mites from breeding in the bedding.
• Modify your bedroom by replacing dusty carpets with linoleum or hardwood floors. This also means no rugs or carpets, heavy drapes, and in children's rooms, no stuffed animals or scores of books and toys.

"By learning the exact environmental irritants that trigger your allergies, and taking aggressive steps to avoid these allergens, you can improve your breathing and quality of life," Dr. Benton adds.