Sometimes the air around us seems to be our enemy because of allergies.  You are not alone! It's the most chronic condition that accounts for one out of 40 visits to the doctor.

Hay fever or allergic rhinitis is a seasonal condition if you are allergic to pollen, but can be a year-round condition if you are allergic to mold, dust, or animal dander.

The lining of your nose and sinuses will swell whenever these tiny air-borne allergen get into your system, resulting in in sneezing, stuffy, or runny nose.  Other symptoms include itching, coughing, and sore throat.

It might be hard to fight something you can't see, but it is not impossible! Here are some helpful tips to keeping your allergies under control.

 As gross as it sounds, dust mites are tiny insects that live in your, carpets, bedding, and mattresses.  The eat dead sloughed-off skin cells and it is their waste matter that can trigger an allergic reaction. For 30 minutes after you vacuum or change the bed sheets, this waste material stays in the air you breathe.  And inhaling them can cause an episode of sniffling, sneezing and coughing.

Sunlight may actually help you combat tose pesky bugs!  In a study in Australia, they found that leaving a mite infested rug outside in the sunlight killed 100 percent of the mites and their eggs. This would most likely work for your pillows, bedding, and curtains as well.

 For the carpets that you can't remove and take outside, try a tannic solution.  Researchers found that 92 percent of dust mites were reduced with this one type of solution called Allersearch AD.

It is important to try to keep your house as dry as possible to limit the growth of mold. Check areas that tend to be damp, like around toilets, tubs, and under the sink. Houseplants and aquariums are another hiding place. It is best to wipe these places down with some bleach water. If you must have houseplants, you can buy mold retardants from the local nursery.

 If you are allergic to pollen, stay indoors when the pollen level is high. Spring and fall are the busiest time of the year for pollens and most likely to cause a problem.  Grass and tree pollen make spring a time of sniffling.  And in the fall ragweed well kick up new symptoms for the allergy sufferer. Pollen levels seem to be the highest during the morning, so staying in until afternoon may help.

 Whenever you are outside doing some yard work, wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth, espesially when cutting grass.  It will block out at least some of the allergens.  If you are allergic to dust, you can wear a mask whenever you run the sweeper.

 After doing some outdoor activities, take a quick shower to remove any pollen residue form your skin and hair.  If you have long hair, it especially will harbor a lot of pollen.  It is really important to shampoo prior to going to bed.

 To help you rest better at night, close your bedroom windows to keep allergens out.