A high-quality HEPA air purifier can eliminate nearly all the smoke, dust or allergen particles from the air in a room — but a $40 contraption can eliminate about 90 per cent. It’s worth a try if you need to clean your indoor air on the cheap.

Seeing the world is an enlightening experience, but it can also be a dangerous one if you're allergic to things like nuts, gluten, soy, lactose, shellfish, and others foods. That doesn't have to hold you back, though. Here are a few tips to help you travel and eat safely.

I went through most of my life thinking I was allergic to penicillin. I'd had hives with a dose of the stuff as a child, and an also-allergic family member taught me to look for an allergy section on every medical form I filled out, and make sure to write "penicillin" on the line.

It’s officially spring. Along with the flowers and sunshine, for the allergic among us it’s also the sneeziest, eye-wateringest season. That’s mostly due to surges in airborne pollen, and so when pollen is high, allergic people should stay in inside.

That’s sensible advice — if your home isn’t a major allergy zone already. Here’s how to make sure the inside of your home actually gets you some relief.

Yesterday was International Cat Day, and the perfect way to celebrate is by enjoying the company of a local feline. Sadly, cat allergies prevent some cat admirers from enjoying their adorable smooshy faces.

But even if you’re terribly allergic, there are steps you can take to help alleviate symptoms and enjoy every day with these volatile furballs.

It would be terrifying if baby wipes caused food allergies, right? Good thing we have zero evidence of that (phew). A recent study was reported as if this is the answer to why everybody's allergic to peanuts, but guess what? The study didn't prove that. And it didn't involve baby wipes. It didn't even involve (human) babies.

Dear Lifehacker, what's the best way to deal with a cold? Some people tell me to use drugs, others tell me that stops my body fighting it naturally. Some people tell me to blow my nose, some say that's a waste of time. Should I rest? Should I exercise and sweat it out? What should I be eating? Should I avoid dairy or is that a bunch of bullshit. HELP ME PLEASE.

With September comes Spring and while I’m lucky enough to be able to roll around in the grass and run through sun-soaked fields all day with little issue, others will be dreading the pollen count rising and dealing with the frustrating effects of hay fever. But don’t let your spring dreams be dreams! You can still get outside and see the flowers bloom!

Here’s some tips to help you deal with hay fever.

Cat allergies, like sexuality, run on a spectrum. If you're only slightly allergic, you might be ready to bear it, if you can find a cat that will meet you halfway. While there's no such thing as a completely hypoallergenic cat, some breeds are easier on the sinuses than others. Unfortunately most online advice is unsourced or anecdotal. We asked allergist Joseph T. Inglefield III, MD to fact-check some popular beliefs about cat allergies.

Sneezes are powerful -- we can sneeze at 64km/h and at distances up to 9m. And there's nothing worse than wanting to sneeze but not being able to. Sometimes, you just have to stop a sneeze, but that can't be good for us, can it?

If you find your allergies are getting worse while you're at a bar with friends, the issue might be what you're drinking.

You've heard of peanut and wheat allergies, but if you get a weird tingly feeling in your mouth when you eat raw fruit, you may wonder -- can a person be allergic to apples? It turns out this is a mostly harmless reaction, called oral allergy syndrome, that happens in people who are allergic to pollen.

Parents have been told to avoid giving peanut-containing foods to babies for a long time, but recent research has started to suggest the opposite. Now, the US National Institutes of Health recommend parents introduce peanuts to babies as young as four to six months.

If you have dietary restrictions, eating at restaurants in another country when you can't speak the language can be a difficult or sometimes even life-threatening ordeal. Pocket-size, translated cards to show the restaurant staff can make things a little less stressful. Just make sure they include a couple of important details.

Video: Today is the first day of spring, which means the first day of suffering for those of us who have hay fever. If you're thinking of getting immunotherapy to help with your symptoms, now's a good time to get treatment.

It can be a bummer when gorgeous weather beckons you to go outside and you suddenly find your adventurous spirit hampered by your one true enemy: allergies. Why is it that harmless plants seem to attack our senses? And why are only some of us affected?

Acupuncturist Jamie Starkey points out two simple techniques to relieve the pressure in your eyes and nose when hay fever or other allergy issues are driving you crazy.

Video: This by the American Chemical Society (ACSReactions on YouTube) details why peanut allergies are particularly dangerous and a new theory why peanut allergies have been on the rise.

I can never seem to remember which grains and flours are gluten-free, which is a problem when I'm planning a meal for friends with gluten sensitivities. The BROWS acronym offers an easy way to remember.