Allergy Control: Reducing Airborne Allergens in your Home

Those who are plagued by allergies are always struggling to diminish those irritants that cause watery eyes, runny noses and rashes that sometimes translate into full-blown hives. These and other symptoms can be brought about by a number of contaminants that infiltrate the very air that people breathe within their own homes. If youre among those who are constantly being attacked by airborne allergens, there are some positive steps that you can take in order to reduce or eliminate the elements that are the catalysts to allergy attacks.

Dust mites are the cause of many allergic reactions, and must be eliminated from their most common breeding areas in order to find relief. Since they tend to live in warm and humid places, items such as beds, carpets and upholstered furniture are prime breeding grounds for those miniscule insects. Living on the skin cells that people and their pets shed, they deposit their waste in all of the areas that they gather, wreaking havoc with allergies.

In order to control dust mites and eliminate the allergies that they trigger, wash bedclothes each week and dry on high heat; use anti-allergen casings for mattresses and bedclothes; clean furniture and carpets with a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner; dehumidify the air; filter the air with a HEPA air purifier; perform regular housecleaning at least once a week, using equipment that traps dust; and keep only hypo-allergenic toys in the house that can be washed in hot water, rather than the more commonly used stuffed animals.

With over 35 million people who suffer from pollen-induced allergies, its critical that steps are taken to remove the allergens that can trigger adverse reactions, such as sneezing, wheezing, rashes and watery eyes or nose. Large quantities of pollen can enter your home by traveling in through open doors or windows, on clothing and hair and on the family pet.

As much as we seem to love dry, breezy days, those are the weather conditions that are just right for pollen to circulate. Avoid being outdoors when possible or, at least, be sure to exercise indoors, if you would normally do so outside. When driving, be sure to keep the windows raised and employ the air conditioning. In addition, you should also keep your windows at home closed and use air conditioning or window screens with filters; remember to remove shoes before entering the house; wash your hair each night; avoid hanging laundry outdoors; engage someone else to mow the lawn; and use HEPA filters on heating and air conditioning units.

Those who own pets often have allergic reactions to their dander and need to take precautions in order to eliminate airborne allergens. Keep the pet outdoors as often as is reasonable and wipe down the surfaces of the homes interior; vacuum frequently using a HEPA vacuum; wash your pet weekly with dander-reducing shampoo and use anti-dander spray; wash your hands after handling your pet; wear a dust mask while cleaning; and use vent filters on air conditioners and heaters.

While it may seem like a great deal of work in order to eliminate these airborne allergens from your home, the amount of work will be significantly reduced if you perform these cleaning rituals regularly.

Jonathan Chase (a lifelone allergy sufferer) is the creator of http://www.home-air-filter-edu.com,which provides free information to individuals interested in air purification and reducing their allergy symptoms.

allergy asthma dog allergy allergy symptom allergy relief mold allergy

5 Simple Steps to Creating an Allergy Friendly Home

It will seem horribly unfair to any child who suffers with
allergies that they cannot have a pet or must loose one whom they
have grown attached to. Is there a way to deal with pet allergies
which may lessen or even eliminate the suffering for adults and
children with allergies?

WHAT ARE YOU ALLERGIC TO?

By establishing whether the animal is actually the cause of an
allergy is certainly the best starting point. However, that can
be a difficult task if you already have an animal since the
allergens are extremely difficult to remove entirely.

If an existing pet can be removed and the home thoroughly cleaned
(carpets, walls, furniture etc.) you MAY be able to verify the
allergy in several months. Obviously that is not the easiest
solution.

Having the child stay with a friend or relative for a week (as
long as there are no pets in the home) may show an improvement
that might indicate an allergy to the family pet.

A visit to the doctor can confirm an allergy with a simple test.
The tests vary, but some can be mildly uncomfortable and would
probably not be considered if the allergy symptoms were mild.

Some allergy symptoms are compounded by exposure to several
allergens. By identifying other sources and removing them you may
find the reaction to pets is lessened and not a barrier to
enjoying their presence.

CREATING AN ALLERGY FRIENDLY HOME

There are several steps you can take to reduce the build up of
allergens and bring relief to allergy sufferers.

The first recommendation is to have hardwood or other smooth
surface for your flooring. Carpets hold far more of the particles
that cause allergies and hard flooring makes it easy to clean.

Leather furniture is also ideal for homes with pet allergies. For
the same reason as hard flooring is more suitable than carpet,
leather holds far less allergens than fabric.

Keep a seat for the allergy sufferer that pets are not allowed to
sit on. Also be certain that animals do not sleep on the beds or
enter the bedrooms of allergy sufferers. Consider keeping the
sleeping area of the home as a pet-free zone.

MAKING YOUR PET AS HYPO-ALLERGENIC AS POSSIBLE

There are even things you can do with your pet to reduce the
allergic effects of having them in your home.

Frequent grooming and bathing with a mild soap to prevent over
drying will reduce the dander that is one of the main causes of
pet allergies. It would be recommended that someone without
allergies take on this task.

Washing hands after playing with a pet and avoiding touching your
face with unwashed hands will also help. Since some individuals
are also allergic to the saliva of pets it would be sensible to
not allow your pet to lick you.

In the case of more serious allergies or asthma it may be best
that no pet share the home. For older children or adults it may
be possible to find a medication or treatment which makes the
situation tolerable if they prefer to keep the pet despite the
allergy.

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes
only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any
disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any
health care program.

Emily Clark is editor at Lifestyle Health News and Medical Health News
where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on
many medical, health and lifestyle topics.

kill allergy fast allergy allergy treatment allergy immunology food allergy