People with allergies living in the Philippines encounter many unique challenges when it comes to managing their symptoms. For one, the country’s high humidity and tropical climate makes it easier for mold, dust mites, and fungi to grow, all of which are common allergens. Urban areas are also rife with air pollution, which can trigger not only allergies but also other respiratory problems. Meanwhile, for those who happen to live in provinces with abundant vegetation, pollen from flowering plants or trees may also be another cause of allergic reactions.
Southstar Drug, one of the most trusted drugstores in the Philippines, is dedicated to helping Filipinos manage their illnesses and other medical conditions through quality prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) products. For allergies in particular, we’ve got several runny nose medicine Philippines’s residents can rely on to alleviate symptoms of their allergic reactions. Do you or a loved one often suffer from allergies? Then we’ve compiled some helpful habits that people with allergies can practice to better manage their condition.
- Minimize Exposure to Allergy Triggers
The best way to not trigger allergic reactions is to avoid being exposed to your triggers in the first place. This is, of course, often easier said than done. Nevertheless, it’s possible to minimize your exposure to triggers with habits such as keeping your home dust-free and wearing a face mask when going outdoors to filter out pollen and air pollution.
To help keep indoor air clean at home, consider investing in air purifiers with high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters to reduce allergens such as dust, pollen, and mold spores in your home. Meanwhile, try to plan outdoor activities in a way that helps you avoid peak pollution or pollen times, such as leaving early in the morning or late evening. In addition, it’s also a good habit to monitor air quality levels using apps or websites to further help you manage your pollution exposure.
- Maintain Personal Hygiene
Walking along busy streets or spending time outdoors can get pollen, dust, and smoke particles to stick on your skin and hair. Thus, make it a habit to shower and change into new clothes upon returning home to wash off these irritants before they spread to other areas of your home. Also, place these clothes in the laundry bin right away instead of leaving them lying around to prevent spreading allergens.
- Practice Good Cleaning Habits
Developing good cleaning habits is also crucial to minimize allergens in your home. When cleaning dust from your shelves, try to use vacuums with HEPA filters or microfiber cloths to remove dust without scattering the particles into the air. In addition, aim to reduce clutter in your home such as books or stuffed toys left lying around as these items will only end up accumulating dust. Instead, store them properly in cabinets.
Last but not least, make it a habit to sun-dry beddings and cushions as well to eliminate dust mites and bacteria on them. Try to do this weekly to avoid allergen build-up that can trigger your allergies. For items like bed covers, pillow cases, blankets, and towels, replace them every week and wash the used ones in warm water to remove traces of allergens. Make sure they are thoroughly dry before keeping and using them again.
- Avoid Smoking and Smoke Exposure
Smoking is a common trigger for asthma and other respiratory allergies. To avoid aggravating your condition, avoid smoking and limit your exposure to secondhand smoke. If anyone in your family smokes, it may be best to have a conversation with them so they can also minimize their smoking or at least ensure that they don’t smoke when you’re around.
Avoid burning leaves or garbage as well, as doing so releases smoke that contains harmful particulates. Have a discussion with household members or neighbors who are doing this about the risks of such actions to gain their cooperation in keeping your immediate environment relatively smoke-free.
- Perform Respiratory Exercises
Make breathing exercises a habit to improve lung capacity and reduce sensitivity to triggers. This can be as simple as inhaling deeply through the nose and exhaling slowly through the mouth for several minutes each day. Yoga can also be helpful in managing allergy symptoms. Not only does yoga improve your respiratory functions, it also enhances your immune system.
Stay physically active with low-impact exercises such as walking or swimming to improve lung health. In particular, swimming is an excellent way to improve breathing control. Just make sure that the water you’ll be swimming in is clean.
- Adopt a Healthy Diet
Boost your vitamin C intake with fruits like guava, papaya, and calamansi to improve your immune system and combat respiratory inflammation. In addition, fish such as milkfish (bangus) and salmon provide omega-3 fatty acids, which can help reduce allergy symptoms.
Keep track of specific food allergens that trigger your symptoms and ensure that the food you’re eating doesn’t contain any trace of them. For instance, if you’re allergic to shrimp, then you may also need to watch out for dishes with bagoong to avoid an allergic reaction. If you’re dining out, don’t hesitate to communicate your food allergies with the staff so they can recommend safe alternatives for you.
Living with allergies can be less stressful by cultivating habits that help reduce your overall exposure to triggers while also strengthening your respiratory system. Let the tips mentioned here be your guide in managing your allergies, thus making sure that you can go through your daily routines with ease and not constantly worry about allergic reactions.
