Know when the plants that trigger your allergies are in bloom and avoid visiting at that time of year. Time your trip to coincide with low levels of pollen. If traveling by car, close the windows and use the air conditioner. Fill allergy and asthma prescriptions before leaving home. Guests Dust Mites Moist, balmy air, good weather and spring break may attract more than relatives to your home.
Dust mites, microscopic creatures related to spiders, thrive on moisture.
When moisture gets trapped inside a home, dust mites settle in and reproduce rapidly. Dust mites live off of human skin scales, says Harold Nelson, M.D., an allergist at National Jewish. People slough off dead skin cells all the time, and, in the process, dust mites infiltrate the soft surfaces of bedding, pillows, sofas and carpets. Almost everyone is exposed to dust mites, but not everyone is sensitive to them. In one study, children allergic to dust mites were five times more likely to have asthma than children who were not allergic to the microscopic bugs, he notes.