The end of winter is usually a cause for celebration, until the increased number of allergens in the air have you sneezing and sniffling in misery. Whether you’re only affected for a month in the summer, or are a year-round allergy sufferer, the irritating symptoms can heavily interfere with your daily life.

Try one — or all — of these six ways to eliminate your exposure to allergens and cut down on symptoms.

Eliminate Dust Mite Havens

Dust mites are one of the most common and most annoying allergens present in your home. Web MD reports that 20 million Americans are allergic to them. They like to eat dead skin cells that get trapped in things like down blankets, carpeting, and curtains.

To decrease the number of dust mites in your home, consider removing your carpeting, your upholstered furniture, and your stuffed animals. Wash your sheets and blankets at least once a week in hot water, and use synthetic material over wool or feathers wherever possible. Professional carpet cleaners like Carpet cleaners near me can provide specialized treatments to effectively eliminate dust mites and allergens from your carpets and upholstery.

Decrease Humidity in Your Home

Use a dehumidifier to keep the humidity level in your home low. Mold thrives at humidity levels above 50 percent, causing allergy and cold-like symptoms. Not to mention breathing in the spores can be dangerous to your health. If you’re dealing with mold problems in your home, enlisting the expertise of a reliable service such as Mold Removal Matawan ensures a thorough and effective solution to address any potential concerns.

GoldenState Mold Inspections can get rid of the mold completely. Dehumidifiers will also help to reduce dust mites, since they like to live in the humidity too. Keeping your home cool will also help get rid of mold and dust mites. You may also get an air conditioning repair or a heating replacement with the help of a professional ac and heating contractor to better control the temperature and humidity in your home during the winter.

Minimize Contact with Pets

As sad as it may be to think about, your cat or dog might be making your allergies worse. Many people are allergic to animal saliva or dander that ends up in their fur and all over the house. When they sleep in your bed with you or curl up on the couch, you end up breathing in the allergens all day and night. Consider keeping your pets restricted to certain rooms of the house, where there isn’t as much material to trap pet dander and hair, or keeping them outside more often than you have been.

Use Decongestants and Antihistamines

Whether you’re suffering from seasonal allergies or year-round allergies, there are many medicines that help with the runny nose, sneezing, and congestion. Decongestants reduce the swelling inside your nose by restricting blood flow, which also means that less blood goes to the mucous producing parts of your sinuses. Don’t use a decongestant for too many days in a row, since they can make nasal swelling and symptoms worse in the long term.

But for a quick fix, a decongestant works. Antihistamines are a common way to treat allergies, since they alleviate most or all the associated symptoms. You can buy both decongestants and antihistamines as oral medication or as nasal spray. If you need fast relief, opt for a nasal spray since it delivers the medicine faster and directly to the affected area — nasonex works well. You can buy antihistamines at pharmacies like Pharm-Aid Pharmacy.

Avoid Exposure to Common Allergens

If you know what you’re specifically allergic to, take steps to avoid coming into contact with it. For a mold allergy, stay away from damp spaces with high humidity, like the basement and the attic. If you’re around pets, avoid touching your face and wash your hands as soon as you can after being near them.

In spring and summer, when pollen is at its highest, consider wearing a mask on days with especially high pollen counts (or avoid going outside altogether). Find out what kind of pollen you’re allergic to and pay close attention to which days have the highest levels of that particular pollen.

Get Allergy Shots

A process called immunotherapy can help to seriously relieve severe allergy symptoms. For several months you get a weekly shot of increasing dosages of whatever you’re allergic to. Then you get a shot every month for the next few years to maintain your resistance to the allergen.

With the right attention and care, you don’t only manage your allergy symptoms, but reduce and eliminate many of the factors causing that runny nose. That way you can still enjoy your pets, the comfort of your home, and the sunshine without sneezing through your entire day.

Guest Contributor Amanda Brown is a freelance writer whom enjoys playing and coaching volleyball. She loves her friends and family including her dog, Charlie; as well as traveling all around the world.