5 Things That Make Your Allergies Worse

3. Having that evening cocktail
This is one trigger that you may not want to hear about, but drinks like beer and wine contain bacteria and yeast, microorganisms that produce histamines, which are known allergy triggers. Studies have shown that wine has the most profound effect, especially in women. Red wine has 20 percent to 200 percent more histamines than white wine. Further, pickled or yeast-containing foods, like cheese, bread or cider, can have a similar effect on allergy symptoms.

4. Washing your laundry in cold water
It may be good for the environment and your energy bill, but doing all of your laundry in cold water may leave behind dust mites or other allergens in your sheets, clothes and towels. You don’t have to do the entire wash on the hot cycle, but it may be best for items like bedding that tend to collect particles or for times when your allergy symptoms are at their worst. If you don't want to set your water temperature as high as 130 degrees Fahrenheit, which kills dust mite eggs, you may alternatively use the hottest dryer setting.

5. Hanging out with smokers
While cigarettes are a known trigger for people with sensitive sinuses or respiratory issues, you may also want to avoid hanging out very long with the people who smoke them. The harmful particles in tobacco smoke tend to stick to hair and clothing—hence the ever-present odor that smokers tend to carry—where they can be breathed in by you. As you can imagine, the effects are even worse when smokers are carrying out their habit indoors.