Top Allergy and Asthma Triggers -- and How to Avoid Them

by Stephanie Welch Alexander

Springtime can be a glorious season -- and a time when allergies go full-bloom. But allergies can strike at any time -- not just in the spring. Allergens (specific substances containing proteins that trigger sneezing, sniffling, watery eyes and rashes) cause the release of histamine in individuals carrying the antibody immunoglobulin E. In severe cases, a life-threatening condition called anyphylaxis can result.

So what can you do to breathe a little easier? Start by identifying the top triggers in and around your home, then follow our tips and discover new technologies for clearing the air.

Click here for a larger image
Pollen
Next: Mold
Plants have pollination cycles which are consistent from year to year -- no surprise to allergy-sufferers. Weather conditions can also affect the amount of pollen in the air at any one time. The pollination season occurs earliest in the south and progressively later in northern regions. Trees pollinate earliest, followed by grasses, and finally, weeds. Thankfully, pollens (the small, round male cells of plants), traveling as far as 400 miles away and up to two miles in the air -- vanish after the first frost.


Pollen

Mold

Furry Animals

Dust Mites

Pests


Food

Latex

Stinging Insects

Asthma Irritants