A Look At Allergy Products
Do allergy products really make a difference? Plenty of
specialty products exist, and if you are looking, you can you
find products for every room in the home and practically every
part of your body. HEPA air filters and filters for your vacuum
cleaner; 100% pure cotton bedding and pillows; masks that you
can wear at work, at play and at home; cleaning supplies; cases
to stuff your mattresses in; throat moisturizers; cosmetics;
dehumidifiers; toys that can be washed; the list goes on and on.
Take a peek on the Internet and you'll find pages of websites
offering allergy products of all sorts and all price ranges.
Allergy products are big business and to allergy sufferers,
these products look to be the answer to all of their suffering.
If you suffer from allergies, you too might be tempted to jump
on the allergy products bandwagon. Before you do, it's important
to realize that the answer to whether any of these products work
or not is a bit more complicated than it seems on the surface.
Several allergy-related issues need to be addressed before you
whip out your credit card. Otherwise the allergy products you
select might not be the great deal you had expected. First of
all, be certain you know what it is you are allergic to. Are you
allergic to pet dander, dust mites, food, grass, or what? If you
know, that's great. If you don't, you might want to first go
through a round of allergy tests to determine your nemesis.
Once you know what it is you are allergic to you then need to
spend some time reading the descriptions of the allergy products
before you purchase any. Why? Because the allergy products you
may be interested in might not be designed to alleviate the
allergens that cause your problems. For example, the purpose of
an air filter is to remove airborne allergens, the ones that
spend the majority of their time suspended in air, like pet
dander.
Dust mite droppings are only in the air a short time, when
they're first released or when a vacuum cleaner stirs them up
from their resting place on the ground. An expensive air filter
won't benefit you if you are sensitive to dust mites. However, a
casing to enclose your mattress or your pillows will, as these
are designed to keep the allergens from coming into contact with
you.
Getting back to air filters, most are not effective for dealing
with plant-based allergens, even though these are considered
airborne allergens. In the case of ragweed, grass clippings and
other such irritants, it is better to keep these from entering
the home in the first place by closing doors and windows and
running an air conditioner.
Are you beginning to understand what is involved with selecting
the right allergy products? When in doubt, the best advice is to
discuss the subject of allergy products with your allergist.
You're more likely to get an accurate, unbiased answer to your
questions about allergy products.