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Rhinitis - 5 Triggers of Allergic Rhinitis and Suggestions For Coping

By Debbie Davis

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 11Feb2010 Word count: 598 Viewed: 286 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

Allergic rhinitis, inflammation of the soft tissue and membranes in the nasal passages, is often triggered by both outdoor seasonal and chronic indoor allergens. When outdoor allergens are determined to be the cause, it is commonly referred to as hay fever.

Knowing what the triggers are is half the battle when trying to effective deal with rhinitis. Here are 5 well known triggers and suggestions for dealing with them.

1. Pollens are probably the most frequent outdoor triggers with spring tree pollen, summer grass pollen, and fall ragweed and weed pollen all taking their turn in the air. Regardless of which pollen affects you most, the best way to alleviate symptoms is always to avoid the trigger. But realistically it is almost impossible to avoid pollen totally. Minimize its impact by doing the following.

* Have someone else mow your lawn.
* Replace your lawn with a more allergy friendly ground cover.
* Use medication to decrease sensitivity and alleviate symptoms.
* Stay informed with a daily pollen count that helps you plan indoor activities when the count is high.
* Keep windows and doors closed at home and in the car.
* Use air conditioning rather than window or whole house fans.
* Avoid outdoors during early morning hours when the pollen count is highest.

2. Mold is another outdoor trigger that must be reckoned with. Unlike pollen, it has no season and can be found in the air all through the year. Mold spores can and do travel for miles. So avoid outdoors during dry windy days, as these are times when spore populations peak.

Avoid raking leaves (see there's an up side to everything) as the bottom of the pile is often damp and a haven for mold growth. Minimize your exposure with the following plan.

* If you choose to do yard work, wear a mask.
* Clear, or have piles of leaves removed from your yard.
* Make sure your landscape has proper drainage to avoid prolonged wet soil which encourages the mold growth.
* Use a dryer for clothes rather than a clothes line to avoid bringing mold indoors on clothes.

3. Pet dander is a trigger that is more emotional to deal with particularly if you, the sufferer, are a pet lover. But there are things that you can do to keep your pet and lessen your symptoms.

* Check with your vet about bathing your pet as this will reduce dander. Only use shampoo that is specifically approved for your pet, and bathe at intervals recommended by your vet.
* Use a HEPA vacuum and air purifier to remove dander from the floor and air.
* Make the bedroom as close to being dander free as possible by enjoying your pet in other parts of your home.

4. Household dust has been the bane of man's existence since moving indoors from the wild. Every house has it, and unless you take steps to minimize it, it is a well known irritant for those with rhinitis.

* Use a damp mop and dust cloth to trap and eliminate it. * Avoid carpets as they make it easier for dust to accumulate.
* Use blinds (vertical are best) rather than draperies because they hold less dust.

5. Dust Mites are indoor allergens that can greatly aggravate rhinitis. They make their home in your mattress, bed linens, and pillows, and their droppings often trigger debilitating symptoms. And whereas nothing can totally eliminate them, you can significantly reduce their numbers with a combination of strategies.

* Encase mattresses and pillows with dust mite covers.
* Wash linens weekly in water that is 140 degrees Fahrenheit or hotter.
* Use a high efficiency particle arresting air purifier to trap and eliminate them.

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