12 Ways to Stop Allergies Before they Start

1. Make sure that your house is well ventilated, including the under-floor area. But shut the windows during high pollen times and turn on the air conditioning to clean, cool and dry the air. High humidity encour ages the growth of moulds and can attract cockroaches.

2. Limit outdoor excursions when pollen and mould counts are high. Peak pollen times usually fall between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Avoid long periods outdoors on windy days, too, when dust, mould and pollen are blown about. Keep allergens out of your eyes by wearing wraparound sunglasses.

3. Holiday in lowallergen areas. The seashore is a good choice. Although the breeze is damp, levels of allergy-causing pollen tend to be low.

4. Shower, wash your hair and change your clothing (including shoes) after being outside. It’s yet another way to exile outdoor allergens, which can easily collect on your skin, hair and clothing. The allergens are then transferred to your face, hands and pillowcase.

5. Get someone else to do the garden ing. It can expose you to high levels of pollen and mould. Have trees and bushes pruned regularly to cut down on vegeta tion near doors and windows. Don’t use leaf blowers. They spurt mould into the air at full force. Plant only trees and shrubs that produce small amounts of pollen. A helpful booklet, The Low Allergen Garden, is available from The Asthma Foundation of New South Wales.