2019-03-01ReadersDigest_AUNZ

24 | March• 2019

HEALTH

LEAVING THE

WINDOWS OPEN

Drivewiththewindows

upandturnyourcar’s

air conditioner to the ‘do

not recirculate’ setting,

recommends Dr Bassett.

Also,trytoparkinagarage

orwherethecarwillbe

somewhat covered and less

likely to have pollen land on

it.Similarly,keepallyour

windowsathomeclosedto

keep pollen out, and turn

ontheairconditionerif

necessary.Checkthatthe

filteronyourairconditioner

is properly installed and isn’t

too dirty.

AND DON’T DELAY

YOUR MEDICATION

People often don’t start taking allergy

medications until their symptoms get

unbearable, but that’s a mistake.

Allergy experts advise to consider

starting treating allergies before you

havesymptomsifyouknowyouhave

bad pollen allergies.

Watchpollencounts,andassoon

astheystarttorise,starttakingyour

usual medication. Once your body

ramps up its release of histamines and

inflammatory chemicals, allergies are

that much harder to treat.

Keeping a record

of your symptoms

is the first step

in identifying the

allergen to which you

are allergic. Monitor

what’s happening

for you and ask the

following questions.

TRIGGERS:Does

exposuretoa certain

kind of food, drink,

material or animal

bring on your allergy

symptoms?

TIMING:Do you

only get symptoms

at certain times of

the year? Do you

suffer more in the

morning, during the

dayoratnight?

LOCATION:Do

your symptoms

occur when you’re

inside or outside the

house, or both?

WHAT’S CAUSING YOUR ALLERGY?

Source: Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy. http://www.allergy.org.au