1. Stay Allergy Free When Mold Free
Mold thrives in shady, damp situations in temperatures ranging from 70 to 90 degrees F. Indoors, mold finds its way to basements, bathrooms and kitchens. Most people remain blissfully unaware that they're living among mold spores, while others have a sensitive immune response that reacts to mold with allergic symptoms like a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing and headache. Occasionally, a mild cough is present and the nasal symptoms can block Eustachian tubes to affect hearing. Unlike animal and pollen allergies, a mold allergy rarely leads to eye irritation. Many find allergy relief with the same medications recommended for seasonal allergies.
2. Fight Mold Allergy With Antihistamine
Over the counter antihistamines like Benadryl have long been a defense against allergies, but at a price. Drowsiness, sometimes extreme drowsiness, makes doing anything besides sleep difficult, if not dangerous (manufacturers recommend against driving or operating any machinery). A newer generation of antihistamine medication works for many allergy sufferers while allowing them to stay alert. The most commonly known is Claritin, also available generically as Loratadine. Other antihistamine medications that have proven successful against mold allergies include Allegra and Zyrtec. Often, a person suffering from allergies must try different medications to find which one works best.
3. Up Your Nose With a Nasal Corticosteroid
When antihistamines don't do the trick, doctors may prescribe a nasal corticosteroid spray that functions as an anti-inflammatory agent against the nasal symptoms that often accompany a mold allergy. These nasal allergy sprays come under the names Nasonex, Flonase, Nasacort and Nasalcrom. Often the spray container must be primed before using the first time. Shaking the container and spraying in the air a few times usually makes the medication functional.
4. Call Out the Big Guns
In case of severe mold allergy that doesn't respond to other treatment, doctors prescribe systemic corticosteroids like prednisone to fight symptoms. Because long-term steroid use can lead to other problems, doctors recommend reducing dosages or switching to a nasal corticosteroid once symptoms are under control.
5. Keep Treatment Options Open
When you've tried mold allergy medications without success, don't resign yourself to a life of suffering from allergy symptoms. Ask your doctor if you would be a good candidate for immunotherapy or allergy shots. Another option is seeing a holistic practitioner or chiropractor who is familiar with energy-based allergy elimination treatment.
