There are some simple things you can do to prevent allergies at home, work, school or outdoors.

At Home:

• Dust to control mites- By dusting surfaces and washing bedding often, you can control the amount of dust mites in your home.
• Vacuum often- Vacuuming once or twice a week will reduce the surface dust mites.
• Reduce pet dander- If you have allergies, you should avoid pets with feathers or fur like birds, dogs and cats. Animal saliva and dead skin, or pet dander, can cause allergic reactions. If you can't bear to part with your pet, you should at least keep it out of the bedroom.
• Shut out pollen- One easy way to prevent pollen from entering your home is to keep windows and doors closed. Use an air filter and clean it regularly or run the air conditioner and change the filter often.
• Avoid mold spores- Mold spores grow in moist areas. If you reduce the moisture in the bathroom and kitchen, you will reduce the mold. Fix any leaks inside and outside of your home and clean moldy surfaces. Plants can carry pollen and mold too, so limit the number of houseplants.

There are some simple things you can do to prevent allergies at home, work, school or outdoors.

Allergy symptoms, like sneezing, nasal congestion and headache, may make it difficult to concentrate. Every work environment will have specific allergy problems so talk to your health care provider about how you can prevent allergies at your specific workplace.

At School:

Children may face allergens in the classroom and playground. Parents, teachers and health care providers can work together to help prevent and treat childhood allergies. Monitor the classroom for plants, pets or other items that may carry allergens. Encourage your child to wash his/her hands after playing outside. Many of the allergens in the home will also be found at school. Although it may not be an option to vacuum or dust the classroom, there may be treatment options to help a child manage his/her symptoms during the school day.

Outside:

There are certain times during the year when plants and trees release pollen into the air. The timing of these pollen seasons depends on your geographic location. But before you shrug off fancy flowers in fear of sniffles, remember that the types of pollen that most commonly cause your allergies are from plain-looking plants, such as trees, grasses and weeds. These plants produce small and light pollen, perfect for catching a ride on a gentle breeze.