It’s an urban legend that the weight of your mattress will double over the course of 10 years from dust mites. Is this fact or embellishment? We’ll have to call Myth Busters to find out, but we can definitely be certain that dust mites are a major presence in the houses and beds of many Americans. However, before we dive into the effect these dust mites have and what you can do to mitigate them, we’d like to take a minute to help you get to know the creatures that you are sharing a bed with.

For many allergy sufferers, the term “seasonal” can be a bit misleading. While some bothersome allergens do, indeed, come and go as the seasons change, for some, there’s always a new crop standing by, ready to offend. For the unfortunate sniffling souls who are allergic to a wide variety of pollen, winter, spring, summer, and fall are all allergy seasons. Essentially, allergies are our immune system's overactive response to pollen or other allergens that release histamines and cause the sniffling, itching, sneezing, and congestion that we’re all so familiar with.

Whether you find yourself reaching for the tissues as March turns to April or as July turns to August, here’s a month-by-month breakdown of what’s triggering your histamines and what you can do to alleviate your allergy symptoms.

Are you experiencing chronic throat pain, sleep apnea, or trouble swallowing? Suffering from frequent illnesses and discomfort? Then it may be time for a tonsillectomy! Research shows that having your tonsils removed can help prevent chronic illness, recurring sore throats, and tonsillitis.

Should I have my sinuses removed? Can I take out my sinuses? Will sinus surgery help my allergies? If you suffer from chronic allergies, recurring sinus infections, sinusitis, or other sinus-related problems, the odds are pretty good that you’ve asked yourself some variation of these relatively unpleasant questions. And if you’re seriously considering sinus surgery, you’ve probably done everything you can to calm your allergies naturally and to appease your sinuses holistically.

We’ll go ahead and get it right out there: Q-tips are very, very bad for your ears. Under no circumstance should you insert a Q-tip or cotton swab into your ear canal. This may be a tough pill to swallow if, like many Americans, a Q-tip is the first or second thing you reach for after a shower.

Don’t feel bad: you’re not alone, the American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) reported more than 12 million people each year seek medical treatment for impacted earwax.

So, while you’re not alone, you’re definitely doing yourself more harm than good.

Beating spring and early summer allergies may seem like a losing battle, but never fear, we’re here to help you fight another day! While avoidance may not be the solution to all of life’s dramas and conflicts, running for shelter can certainly help minimize your allergy symptoms. Read on for 10 smart ways to defeat pollen and enjoy the rest of this gorgeous spring season.

We’ve all been there: either complaining about how miserable our allergies are making us or desperately hoping that “it’s just allergies.” Regardless of which end of the spectrum you fall on, it’s good to know what’s what.

Naturally, the symptoms for each affliction -- cough, stuffy nose, runny nose, and headache -- are so similar, that it can be hard to tell if you’re suffering from sinusitis, a cold, or allergies. We’ll help you figure out which is which and help you determine when it’s time to schedule a trip to see the doctor.