Nothing can prepare you for allergies; one second you're running around hale and hearty and the next second you're off your feet for days. You may have the medicines to keep you allergy-free but do you believe myths about allergies that can hamper your overall health? For instance, do you believe that children outgrow allergies? Or do you think allergies are not life threatening? Are people allergic to animals because of their fur? Read on as we separate the allergic from the non allergic truths...Here's our list of mythsabout allergies. Myth #1: You need special pillows and covers to ward off allergies. Hope you haven't spent a bomb on this marketing strategy; no pillows are dust and mite free. Unless you sleep in a bubble, you need only invest in linen that is weaved tightly so it won't allow dust to creep in. Also, another measure is to wash your bed linen in hot water and vacuum your room regularly. Myth #2: All pets can affect your allergies. Not really. Only hypoallergenic pets can spur an allergic reaction. What affects you is not the fur or the coat of the pet but what the animal wipes off its body with its tongue and saliva. Pets are carriers of pollen grains, dust and molds. If you do have pets, bathe your dog regularly and on a low temp blow dry the fur, you don't want moisture of the dog growing into mold. Myth #3: Allergies are a passing phase and don't lead to death. It can be lethal if you go into an anaphylactic shock. It means you will suffocate yourself. Television shows have often exploited this reality. A person accidentally consumes peanuts, his blood pressure falls, his tongue and throat swells, making it difficult to breath. Sounds familiar? These shocks are a result of food, drugs or insect sting and immediate medical attention is required. Myth #4: You can be allergic to milk. Only if you are an infant. You are more likely to have allergic reactions to milk as a child, but one can outgrow this allergy type. And you can't mistake milk allergy with lactose intolerance. Allergies affect your immune system and not the lack of enzymes and lactase. Myth #5: The food source doesn't matter. Cow's milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, fish, shellfish and tree nuts are the most allergic in nature. A point to note: Allergies are caused by the protein in the food and the chemicals on the food. Myth #6: If I consume allergic foods during pregnancy then my child will contract allergies too. This is inconclusive; there is a 50/50 chance and doctors won't give any definitive answers. Some researches say food allergens do not go beyond the placenta and the breast milk. But some doctors advise mothers to avoid peanuts. But the jury is still out on this one. We recommend that you stick to what your physician suggests. Myth 7: Certain foods when eaten raw cause allergies. Cooked food destroys allergens therefore if you consume soy oil you are least likely to develop an allergic reaction. Why because the process of making soy oil breaks down allergens.