Seasonal and year-long allergies to parts of the environment, such as dust or pollen, are extremely common, occurring in approximately 20 percent of people in the United States
People with allergies can reduce their symptoms by reducing allergen exposure, especially in the home. Seasonal allergy sufferers should remove their shoes inside the house and machine-dry laundry instead of using clotheslines to keep pollen particles outdoors and off clothing, bedding and carpets. For allergy sufferers who are sensitive to dust mites, removing carpets and washing linens in hot water once each week effectively lowers dust mite levels.
For people who experience multiple allergies, filtering air to remove excess pollens, dust and mold spores aids allergy prevention. High-efficiency particulate air, or HEPA filters, in ventilation systems can remove more than 80 percent of airborne allergens. Homeowners should change the filters regularly for maximum effect. Tabletop air purifiers---as well as dehumidifiers, which remove the moisture that sustains mold spores---also support allergy prevention efforts.
Researchers have explored the use of probiotics---healthy bacteria that enter the body through the digestive system---as a method of reducing allergic disorders such as eczema and allergic rhinitis. Dr. O. Ozdemir notes in the March 2010 issue of "Allergy and Asthma Proceedings" that evidence is building for the use of lactobacillus and other probiotic bacteria in allergy prevention. Dr. M. Kalliomäki and colleagues note in the March 2010 issue of the "Journal of Nutrition," however, that the most effective probiotic doses and strain combinations for allergy prevention are still unknown.