Prevention or avoidance
What can you do to keep your allergic symptoms to a minimum? You could, of course, try adapting your lifestyle to accommodate your allergy as much as possible, for instance by avoiding contact with the allergen. It would, however, be even better if your complaints could be remedied forever. One way of achieving this is by means of causal therapy. This page informs you in more detail about both options.
Preventive measures
1. Causal therapy
Unlike medicines, which are geared to alleviating or suppressing the symptoms of an allergy, causal therapy is designed to reduce or even eliminate hypersensitivity to a certain allergen. Causal treatment also has a preventive effect: the allergic reactions grow less severe and may even disappear altogether. You can read everything about this therapy, known as immunotherapy or hyposensitisation, under 'Causal treatment' and FAQ's.
2. Breastfeeding
Not everybody knows that breastfeeding may offer the baby protection against developing allergies, particularly eczema and food allergy. Breastfed babies are also less prone to becoming asthmatic. It is essential that babies are breastfed long enough, at least four months but preferably six. How long the protection lasts and whether breastfeeding offers lifelong protection against allergy has not yet been established.
3. Cigarette smoke
It is a well-known fact that smoking, including passive smoking, is detrimental to our health. If you are allergic, try to quit smoking and avoid smoky areas wherever possible. Smoking only makes your airways more sensitive to allergens and may exacerbate your allergy.
How to avoid contact with allergens (avoidance)
The battle against house dust mite (sanitation)
One of the most important allergens is the house dust mite or, rather, its droppings. If you are allergic to house dust mite, it is important to minimise air humidity in your house. How? Good ventilation goes a long way. Air the rooms as thoroughly as possible. Make sure that the whole house is moderately heated in winter. There are what are known as hygrometers on the market that enable you to measure humidity in your house.
Keep your house clean. There are vacuum cleaners with a special leak-proof house dust mite filter. Avoid dust traps, such as dried flowers or deep-pile carpets, especially in the bedroom. The house dust mite thrives in mattresses and bedclothes. Air the mattress regularly and wash bedclothes at a temperature of at least 60°C. There are also special house dust mites impermeable mattress covers available.
Avoiding animal allergens
The one thing to do when you are allergic to pets and other animals is avoid coming into contact with them wherever possible. If you are allergic to your dog or cat, you may want to keep it outside, if possible. At night, you may be able to keep it in the kennel, shed or garage. That may be a good alternative, as long as the animal does not come into the house and you do not pet it too often. If all this is not possible, you would be well-advised to find your pet another good home. This may be easier said than done, but remember that it is really the best thing to do, otherwise your complaints will only worsen.
Waste: a major allergen trap
The dustbin and particularly the organic waste bin are allergens' paradise, such as moulds. If you can, keep the bins outside. If you cannot, empty the bin as often as possible, clean it regularly and keep it in as cool a place as possible.
Avoid pollen
If you suffer from hay fever, keep the windows and doors closed wherever possible. Air pollen levels are particularly high early in the morning, so stay indoors if you can. Hay fever reports providing weather forecasts and pollen counts are a valuable source of information. If it has just rained, take the opportunity to go outside. The pollen concentration will be minimal then.
