Sinus pressure/ Allergy tips (Part 1)

Are you having sinus pressures? Do you think you have allergies all year round? (like me, most of the time). Then, your allergies may not be from the seasonal pollens but from DUST MITES. What makes you have allergies is their feces.. i know, gross

The following is a list of tips for those who are suffering (I occasionally do!). I know it's a long list but when you're having crazy itches at night and getting red spots in the morning.. AND/OR you're having sinus pressures, nasal congestion, or phlegm that distracts you from concentrating.. you might as well try some of them, if not ALL).

Allergy control tips from dust mites: (source: mayo clinic)

1. Use allergen-proof bed covers.
Cover your mattress and pillows in dust-proof or allergen-blocking covers. These covers, made of either vinyl or tightly woven fabric, prevent dust mites from colonizing the mattress or pillows. Encase box springs in vinyl or plastic covers.

2. Wash bedding weekly.
Wash all sheets, blankets, pillowcases and bedcovers in hot water that is at least 130 F (54.4 C) to kill dust mites and remove allergens. If bedding can't be washed hot, put the items in the drier for at least 20 minutes at a temperature above 130 F (54.4 C) to kill the mites. Then wash and dry the bedding to remove allergens. Freezing nonwashable items for 24 hours also can kill dust mites, but this won't remove the allergens.

3. Keep humidity low.
Maintain a relative humidity between 30 and 50 percent in your home. A dehumidifier or air conditioner can help keep humidity low, and a hygrometer (available at hardware stores) can measure humidity levels.

4. Choose bedding wisely.
Avoid wool or down bedcovers that trap dust easily and are difficult to clean frequently.

5. Buy washable stuffed toys.
Wash them often in hot water and dry thoroughly. Also, keep stuffed toys off beds (Yeah.. take your teddy bear off the bed!).

6. Remove dust.
Use a damp or oiled mop or rag rather than dry materials to clean up dust. This prevents dust from becoming airborne and resettling.

7. Vacuum regularly.
Vacuuming carpeting and upholstered furniture removes surface dust — essentially the dust mites' food supply — but vacuuming isn't effective at removing most dust mites and dust mite allergens. Use a vacuum cleaner with a double-layered microfilter bag or a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to help decrease house-dust emissions from the cleaner. If your allergies are severe, leave the area being vacuumed while someone else does the dirty work. Stay out of the vacuumed room for 20 minutes after vacuuming.

8. Cut clutter.
If it collects dust, it also collects dust mites. Remove knickknacks, tabletop ornaments, books, magazines and newspapers from your bedroom.

9. Remove carpeting and other dust mite habitats.
Carpeting provides a comfortable habitat for dust mites. This is especially true if carpeting is over concrete, which holds moisture easily and provides a humid environment for mites. If possible, replace wall-to-wall bedroom carpeting with tile, wood, linoleum or vinyl flooring. Consider replacing other dust-collecting furnishings in bedrooms, such upholstered furniture, nonwashable curtains and horizontal blinds.

10. Air purifiers
Air purifiers collect airborne dust in your home and can help with controlling dust if you also maintain vigorous cleaning practices. But purifiers won't remove dust mites because the mites are too heavy to remain airborne long enough to be filtered through an air purifier. Some dust mites may be airborne right after cleaning, but they quickly settle again onto surfaces.

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Here are list of foods that are harmful or make your symptoms worse when you have allergies:

- meat, esp. fats from meat intake; eat fish or beans for protein!
- trans fat: peanut butter, margarine, butter, instant food, fast food, processed/canned food, biscuits, cookies, etc.
- orange juice
- white rice, white flour (take brown rice or whole grain instead)
- jams (sugary processed food)
- food with lots of histamines (that's why our allergy medicines have "anti-histamines"): milk, cheese, spinach, tuna, eggplant, red wine, yeast, mackerel
- food that create histamines in our body, such as: egg whites, strawberries, chocolate, tomatoes, oranges, alcohol.