internal medicine

Do allergy products really make a difference? Plenty of specialty products exist
and if you are looking
you can you find products for every room in the home and practically every part of your body. HEPA air filters and filters for your vacuum cleaner; 100% pure cotton bedding and pillows; masks that you can wear at work
at play and at home; cleaning supplies; cases to stuff your mattresses in; throat moisturizers; cosmetics; dehumidifiers; toys that can be washed; the list goes on and on.

Take a peek on the Internet and you’ll find pages of websites offering allergy products of all sorts and all price ranges. Allergy products are big business and to allergy sufferers
these products look to be the answer to all of their suffering.

If you suffer from allergies
you too might be tempted to jump on the allergy products bandwagon. Before you do
it’s important to realize that the answer to whether any of these products work or not is a bit more complicated than it seems on the surface.

Several allergy-related issues need to be addressed before you whip out your credit card. Otherwise the allergy products you select might not be the great deal you had expected. First of all
be certain you know what it is you are allergic to. Are you allergic to pet dander
dust mites
food
grass
or what? If you know
that’s great. If you don’t
you might want to first go through a round of allergy tests to determine your nemesis.

Once you know what it is you are allergic to you then need to spend some time reading the descriptions of the allergy products before you purchase any. Why? Because the allergy products you may be interested in might not be designed to alleviate the allergens that cause your problems. For example
the purpose of an air filter is to remove airborne allergens
the ones that spend the majority of their time suspended in air
like pet dander.

Dust mite droppings are only in the air a short time
when they’re first released or when a vacuum cleaner stirs them up from their resting place on the ground. An expensive air filter won’t benefit you if you are sensitive to dust mites. However
a casing to enclose your mattress or your pillows will
as these are designed to keep the allergens from coming into contact with you.

Getting back to air filters
most are not effective for dealing with plant-based allergens
even though these are considered airborne allergens. In the case of ragweed
grass clippings and other such irritants
it is better to keep these from entering the home in the first place by closing doors and windows and running an air conditioner.

Are you beginning to understand what is involved with selecting the right allergy products? When in doubt
the best advice is to discuss the subject of allergy products with your allergist. You’re more likely to get an accurate
unbiased answer to your questions about allergy products.