Are you allergic to perfume? Find out how you can find relief from this health problem by reading this informative article!
Perfume can even trigger asthma attacks which are potentially fatal disorders of the respiratory system.
Nearly thirty million people in the United States suffers from Asthma. According to The Institute of Medicine, smelling fragrances can cause an asthma attack as much as smelling cigarette smoke can.
If you think you're allergic to perfume, you can do your own test to determine if you are. Keep a daily log and begin it by writing down the symptoms you experience when you smell perfume. Then, whenever you have the same symptoms, make a notation in your log. You should also make a notation of how you feel anytime you're around someone who is wearing perfume.
After thirty days, take a look at your daily log and compare your notes. If you see a pattern of having the same allergic reactions everytime you were around perfume, then you're probably allergic.
Take your log to your doctor or healthcare professional and explain your concerns to him or her. He or she might place you on an allergy reducer or other drug that will help to relieve your symptoms.
Otherwise, you'll need to reduce your interaction with perfume as much as possible. You can easily remove any perfume products from your own house. However, since our society is filled with fragranced this and perfumed that, it's going to be a tough task to avoid the smell of perfume when you're away from home.
If you work with people who wear perfume, you'll need to tactfully talk with them about your health problem. Hopefully, they'll oblige you by refraining from wearing perfume at work. Keep in mind that there are laws about smoking, but laws about perfume and the adverse effect it can have on some people have yet to be enacted.
If you're looking for an indoor job and have several job interviews set up, tell your prospective employers about your perfume allergies. Granted, it might mean losing a chance at a job, but at least you'll know that they wouldn't have been sympathetic to your problem anyhow.
On the other hand, if the jobs you're applying for deal mainly with working by yourself, or, the work is located outdoors, then you'll have a better chance of not being bothered by perfume allergies.
Unfortunately there are still many public places - movie theaters, restaurants, shopping malls, and even hospitals - where you will find yourself in contact with perfume. To help avoid having allergic reactions, you should carry a thick handkerchief with you at all times. You can then use the handkerchief to cover your nose and mouth until you can get away from the smell.
For fast relief of swollen nasal passages, you should also carry a small bottle of peppermint oil or eucalyptus with you. You can either take a whiff of the oil while it's in the bottle, or, just sprinkle a drop or two on a handkerchief and smell it.
You can also try carrying a roll of strong peppermints with you. Then, whenever you feel the symptoms of your allergies coming on, pop one in your mouth and smell the strong vapors. The vapors might also help to cover up the offensive perfume smell!
