Watery eyes, constant sneezing, wheezing and itching – allergies can not only put a damper on your life, but cause serious allergic reactions that can put you in harms way.More than 50 million people in the United States have allergies – and it is now considered the sixth leading cause of chronic disease.

An allergy sufferer’s first step to getting back to normal consists of a simple visit to your local allergy physician. This will help you understand exactly what you are allergic to. Once you are sure of what you are reacting to, medications can be prescribed to help subdue or prevent your allergic reactions.

But keep in mind that allergen avoidance is the ultimate way to control your allergy reactions. Since no one can live in a bubble for the rest of their lives, there are a few things you can do to completely remove or maintain a low level of allergens in your home.

The nasty truth about airborne allergens.

Airborne allergens are a big source of allergic reaction. The top three allergens that cause the most harm to people are mold, dust mite particles and animal dander – which can be found in virtually every home in the United States.

Molds. Molds are fungi that are too small to see with the human eye. Instead of being able to thrive on sunlight or air, they live on plant or animal matter and decompose for nourishment.

Many molds reproduce by sending spores airborne. When they are inhaled, they can produce an allergic reaction.

Molds thrive in dark, damp places that have poor ventilation or in areas where water is sitting. Adding moisture and heat only accelerates a mold’s growth.

Molds can usually be found hanging out in any environment during any time of the year. They can live both inside and outside the home, but the spores can always make it into the home through doorways, windows or tiny openings around the home.

Dust Mites. Dust mites are actual living, breathing arachnids that are too small to see. They live for two to three months and can lay 25-50 eggs every week.

Humans aren’t necessarily allergic to the dust mite itself; rather, the waste produced from each dust mite, which can be more than 100,000 dust mite waste particles in one gram of dust.

Dust mites thrive in humid conditions (where at least 50 percent humidity is present for some portion of the year). They love dark, warm environments as well. They can usually be found in pillows, box springs, mattresses, blankets, carpets and upholstered furniture. So, you may not be sleeping alone; but could be sharing your bed with over one million mites dining on youra dead skin cells.

Cats. They are cute and cuddly, but can produce a whopper of an allergic reaction. Humans aren’t actually allergic to a cat’s hair – they are allergic to a protein found in the dander and saliva of cats.

Cat allergen is very sticky and is carried on clothing or fabric, wallpaper, carpets, beds, etc., and can linger there for months.