Preventing Allergies

Methods for preventing allergies depend, in large part, on the specific subtance a person is allergic to. If the person is allergic to certain foods, those foods can be avoided altogether. However, with more challenging types of allergies (such as allergies to pollen, molds, and dust mites) complete avoidance may be difficult. There are numerous strategies and measures a person can take in preventing allergies, and avoidance and cleanliness are the two most common approaches.

 

Preventing Allergies: An Overview

Preventing allergies depends on the type of allergy a person experiences. For example, certain food allergies can be prevented by not eating the food. However, preventing allergies from pollen can be more challenging because complete avoidance of pollen can be difficult.
 
Below are some suggestions for preventing allergies or at least minimizing the common causes of allergies.
 

Preventing Pollen and Mold Allergies

Complete avoidance of allergenic pollen or mold means moving to a place where the offending substance does not grow and where it is not present in the air. Even this extreme solution may offer only temporary relief because a person sensitive to a specific pollen or mold may develop allergies to new allergens after repeated exposure to them. For example, people allergic to ragweed may leave their ragweed-ridden communities and relocate to areas where ragweed does not grow, only to develop allergies to other weeds or even to grasses or trees in their new surroundings. Because relocating is not a reliable solution, allergy specialists do not encourage this approach.
 
There are other ways to reduce exposure to offending pollens:
 
  • Remain indoors with the windows closed in the morning, for example, when the outdoor pollen levels are highest. Sunny, windy days can be especially troublesome.
     
  • If you must work outdoors, wear a facemask designed to filter pollen out of the air and keep it from reaching nasal passages.
     
  • Take your vacation at the height of the expected pollinating period and choose a location where such exposure would be minimal.
     
  • Vacationing at the seashore or on a cruise, for example, may be effective retreats for avoiding pollen allergies.
     
(Preventing Allergies Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
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