Have you noticed lately how everyone seems to be sneezing around you?  No, it’s not your imagination, it’s real.  At least 60 million people in the United States suffer from hay fever.

Experts say the cause of this spike in numbers can be due to various reasons. Our bodies can be overreacting to allergens we are not used to.

It can also be due to chemicals we’re ingesting from processed foods. No matter what the reason may be, Allergies are debilitating.

This condition can lead to other problems, such as sinus and ear infections, headaches or lack of sleep. There are plenty of medicines that can be taken for these conditions and of course, when the problem is persistent there are specialists.  Now you can get relief but you have to follow the instructions given to you by your physician.  Take the medications as prescribed.  The key to feeling better is ignoring the myths regarding allergies.

Medication when needed

This is a big problem with allergy sufferers.  They believe that they should only take their medication when their allergies flare up.  This is incorrect.  Taking the medications as prescribed allows your body to build itself up and prepare you for those days you do come in contact with any type of allergen.  Having the medication in your body will prevent histamines from triggering allergic reactions.

Didn’t suffer from allergies as a child

Many believe that since they did not suffer from allergies as a child, they can’t suffer from them as an adult.  Most allergies develop before the age of 30 but it’s common that many will develop them later on in life.  If as a child you suffered from asthma, be prepared, you can develop them anytime.  So if you have an itchy throat and runny nose a little too often, most likely it’s not a cold, its allergies.

Moving to a new location

Even though many believe this to be true, moving to a drier climate such as Arizona, will not make help your allergies very much.  No matter where you go, there are plants that produce pollen and you’re allergies will flare up.

Suffer from one allergy no others

Suffering from one type of allergy can make you prone to others.  For those that suffer from pollens, you can get an allergic reaction eating certain plant based foods with similar proteins.  Here’s an example, if you are allergic to ragweed, then having cantaloupe, zucchini, bananas, or cucumbers could trigger those symptoms.   Not everyone will get this type of reaction, but keep it in mind just.  If it does come to that, then cooking the vegetables, peeling the fruits can help eliminate that problem.

Short haired Pets

There are many pet lovers out there who suffer from severe allergies and every time their pets get close to them, they have a reaction.  Choosing a pet with short hair will not make any difference.  It is not the hair that is causing the allergies, it is the protein produced in their skin or saliva.  Since they lick themselves or you when they greet you, you are exposed to this all the time.  Consider a hairless pet, such as fish, iguanas or hairless dogs and cats.