| Typical allergy causes like pollen from trees and | | | | troublesome ones including coriander, poppy seeds, |
| grasses aren't the only items that might have you | | | | pepper, dill, paprika, cumin and saffron - often found |
| reaching for the tissues... some unexpected things | | | | in Indian and Middle Eastern dishes. If you're not sure |
| you probably have in your home right now might also | | | | which spices are the trouble, try writing down what |
| be causes of allergies and cause allergy symptoms to | | | | you eat each time you have an allergy attack and |
| flare up. | | | | see if you can find a common theme. |
| There are eleven lesser known triggers to watch | | | | 7. Christmas Trees - the staple of the holidays is a |
| for... | | | | place where mold grows very fast... especially if the |
| 1. Candles - the odors from scented candles can | | | | tree is put into a bucket of water or damp soil... a |
| inflame your nasal cavities, according to James | | | | moist, dark place mold just loves. Many people are |
| Wedner, M.D., chief of allergy and immunology at the | | | | either allergic to or irritated by the mold spores. A |
| Washington University School of Medicine. Those with | | | | fake tree is the answer for many, with pine scented |
| allergies are likely to have a runny nose or watery | | | | candles providing that must have "smell". If you must |
| eyes when near a burning candle. Candles with scents | | | | have a real tree, avoid one that's been cut weeks in |
| like pumpkin are usually best tolerated. If you're | | | | advance, as its probably already ripe with mold. Be |
| having trouble with a candle, try to move away, | | | | stingy with water once the tree is at home and keep |
| extinguish it outside or get some fresh air yourself. | | | | it up for as short a time as possible. |
| 2. Perfume - has hundreds of chemicals, mostly | | | | 8. Wall paint - the solvents and synthetic resins often |
| untested on people, and when mixed with the | | | | lead to itchy eyes and headaches, with oil based |
| essential oils in the perfume and sprayed into the air | | | | paints being particularly troublesome as they continue |
| they can cause a person to sneeze, feel congestion | | | | to release chemicals even after they dry. Keep the |
| or get a headache. It's hard, but ask people around | | | | windows open as you work, and try to have fresh |
| you to go easy on the spray scents and suggest | | | | air circulating in the space for up to four weeks after |
| body creams and lotions as their scents aren't quite | | | | finishing the work. Paints with low levels of VOCs |
| as strong. You might also keep a small fan in your | | | | send fewer chemicals in the air, but this isn't a |
| office or car to keep the air moving. | | | | guarantee you won't still have trouble with them. |
| 3. Soaps and detergents - you might be surprised to | | | | 9. Alcohol - it's not an allergy to alcohol (which is rare) |
| learn that most of the itching you think is caused by | | | | but the grains and additives used to make the liquor. |
| a cleaning agent, is actually the fault of a perfume | | | | Wheat or sulfur dioxide preservative can also cause |
| additive. Look for "no additives", "unscented" or | | | | stuffy noses or rash. New York allergist Wellington |
| "phthalate-free" on the label. When drying clothes, | | | | Tichenor, MD also mentions grains like corn, barley |
| use a sheet of aluminum foil in the dryer (instead of | | | | and rye as well as fruit flavorings that can be |
| smelly static cling sheets) to get rid of static without | | | | troublesome too. You might try to drink grain free |
| the strong odor. You can also try a scent-free, | | | | liquors like potato vodka, rum or tequila and skip |
| no-additive dryer sheet. | | | | flavored liqueurs. Look for wine labeled "sulfite-free". |
| 4. Stuffed animals - can get chock full of dust mites, | | | | 10. Buttons on Blue Jeans - are often made from |
| a problem for an estimated 15% of people. You can | | | | nickel which can be a trigger for rashes in up to 20% |
| try washing (in water 140 degrees or hotter), drying | | | | of women. These can be itchy, red and sometimes |
| and then repeating (usually monthly) for favorite | | | | causes blisters and are often treated with topical |
| toys. Toys that can't be washed can be put in a | | | | creams. To avoid these symptoms replace the |
| plastic bag in the freezer for a few hours; this will | | | | buttons with plastic ones or coat the button with |
| also kill the mites. Store toys on a shelf, rather than | | | | clear nail polish, a remedy found to work by a recent |
| on the bed. | | | | St. Louis University study. |
| 5. Carpeting - it's warm on your feet and feels | | | | 11. Lemons and limes - limonene, the zesty compound |
| wonderful, but even if you vacuum all the time, you | | | | in lime and other citrus fruits, leaves many with |
| still have dust mites. Your best bet if you have a | | | | watery eyes and a burning feeling in the nose. You |
| persistent allergy is to take out the carpeting and | | | | might even have irritation on your skin if you touch, |
| replace it with wood or tile and use area rugs instead. | | | | eat or drink products with limonene. Treat any rash |
| Wash the rugs monthly, and keep the humidity of | | | | with topical hydrocortisone creams and skip the |
| the space below 50%. Dust mites thrive in humid | | | | garnish with your drink or salad. Watch for lime in |
| environments. | | | | salad dressings, marinades and desserts as well. |
| 6. Spices - add zing to your food but as they come | | | | Many allergy causes (allergens) can be avoided but |
| from pungent plants they also can bring on | | | | you'll need to keep your eyes open for 'hidden' |
| everything from sniffling to swelling of the nasal | | | | causes of allergies like the ones mentioned above. |
| passages, itching and burning in the lips. Avoid the | | | | |