Controlling Allergens in Your Home
Do your eyes water? Does your throat itch? Perhaps you get a
runny nose during certain times of the year. These are some of
the common signs of an allergic reaction. Others could include
itchy ears, a skin rash, swollen eyes, and a host of other
symptoms that suggest you may be allergic to something in your
environment. If these things persist or develop over time, see
your doctor about medical testing to determine whether you have
true allergies or perhaps more vague sensitivities to temporary
irritants, like smoke, household cleaning chemicals, or attic
dust.
Experts claim that allergy diagnoses have increased
significantly over the past few decades. Improved home
insulation that keeps out bad weather but also seals in airborne
contaminants may be one of the reasons. Another might be due to
the fact that more children are receiving better and earlier
health care, which reveals childhood allergies sooner than
before.
Whatever the reason, if you suspect a loved one has allergic
reactions in response to any type of household allergen, ask
your doctor to confirm the allergy and then take steps to
control or eliminate it.
1. Many people have pet allergies, which typically is a
response to a dog or cat's skin dander that dries and sloughs
off, much as human skin does, usually imperceptibly. Don't let
your pets sleep in your bedroom, which will provide at least
eight hours of separation daily from this allergen. Bathe and
groom your pets frequently, and vacuum two or three times a
week.
2. Dust mites and their excrement irritate some people's skin
and nasal passages. Encase your mattress and pillows with
plastic covers to kill the tiny creatures that inhabit those
areas. Or, if this is uncomfortable, wash pillows and bedding in
hot water with detergent, which will help to reduce if not
eliminate the mite population. At least weekly, vacuum carpets,
fabric furniture, draperies, and other similar areas that house
the mites.
3. Food allergies are common, especially to products like
nuts, eggs, shellfish, and chocolate. When you identify specific
food groups as the problem, find healthy substitutes and check
all processed foods before purchasing them to be sure they do
not contain even miniscule amounts of the food group allergens.
For example, someone who is allergic to nuts also may be
sensitive to foods cooked in peanut oil.
4. Those with seasonal allergies should stay indoors in the
early morning or on windy days and run the air conditioner to
clean indoor air.
Keep antihistamines on hand, along with medication to manage
serious reactions if someone is prone to these. Sensitization
injections are available for certain types of allergies to
gradually increase a person's tolerance of those substances.
However, this can take years, so be patient. Life-threatening
reactions must be managed rapidly by injecting the person with
epinephrine from a kit that he or she should carry everywhere.
Seek emergency treatment if you or someone else develops a rapid
or irregular heartbeat, feels faint, or experiences difficulty
in breathing.