26
Simple & Smart Steps to Prevent Allergy Flare-Ups
By
SixWise.com
With
spring comes blooming flowers, greening trees, fresh-cut grass
and -- for most of the 40 million Americans who suffer from
seasonal allergies -- runny noses, watery eyes and scratchy
throats. Meanwhile the rest of us who suffer from allergies
year-round never even get a winter-break from our symptoms.
But whether it's seasonal allergens that bother you, or potential
year-round allergens like mold, dust or even certain foods,
following the simple steps below can help you keep those irritating
to downright life-intrusive allergic reactions to a minimum.
1. Wash bedding once a week in hot water--it will help get
rid of dust mites and other allergy triggers.
2. Use dehumidifiers in basements and other damp areas of
your home where mold could grow, and be sure to clean them
once a week.
3. If possible, choose hardwood floors instead of wall-to-wall
carpeting, which traps dirt and dust inside and contains synthetic
fibers that can be allergenic themselves. If you must have
carpeting, vacuum it often-at least twice a week.
4. Keep house dust to a minimum using the right tools. Common
mops, brooms, rags and sponges are anything but the right
tool, as they are some of the top harbingers for germs in
the home and they tend to merely push dust around. The PerfectClean
line of mops, dusters, towels and more, which are used by
leading hospitals and other health care organizations, are
ideal cleaning tools for anyone with allergies. Rather than
just pushing dust and other contaminants around, PerfectClean's
EasyGrip Mop and Flexible Duster are made with 100% safe positively-charged
ultramicrofibers that pick up everything in their path-including
dust and all of its microscopic attachments.
5. If you use a humidifier, make sure that you keep it clean.
According to the CPSC, breathing in dirty mist from one can
lead to lung problems ranging from flu-like symptoms to serious
infection, and people with allergies or asthma are at an increased
risk.
6. Keep houseplants to a minimum, as mold can grow in the
soil and be released into the air.
7. An astounding 85 percent of household "dirt" is
carried into your house from the outside, so strategically
placing high-quality mats in highly trafficked areas like
entrances can dramatically reduce the amount of dirt and dust
that's tracked into your home (and spread via your indoor
air).
Again it is key to use the right type of mats - AVOID cotton,
coir & other fibrous, and wood and metal mats, as they
can increase versus help the problem. The Waterhog Grand Premier
mats are our top-recommended choice for a "healthy" mat
(that also looks great!). - after reading this article you
are urged to read Doormats: The Most Unknown, Underrated but
Crucial Health Tool for more insights on choosing the right
mats for your entrances and exits.
8. Don't smoke inside your house (and don't let others do
it).
9. When doing laundry, take wet clothes out of the washer
as soon as the cycle ends. Mold will quickly grow among wet
clothes sitting in a damp, closed space.
10. Filter your home's air-many allergic reactions are triggered
by airborne particles.
11. Install an exhaust fan in your kitchen (over the stove)
to eliminate cooking fumes, and if you already have one-use
it!
12. Allergic to pollen? Keep the windows closed and turn on
the air conditioning instead.
13. After you spend time outdoors, wash your clothing, hair
and body to remove any pollen that may be clinging to you.
14. If you're allergic to grass pollen or mold, wear a mask
when you cut the grass or rake the leaves. If possible, ask
someone else to cut the grass, etc. for you. 15. Pollen counts
reach their highest between the hours of 5 a.m. and 10 a.m.,
so if possible, stay indoors during this time.
16. Limit walks in the woods or through gardens or parks containing
flowers and trees.
17. When you stay in a hotel, always ask for a non-smoking
room.
18. If you know you suffer from certain food allergies (such
as wheat or peanuts), read all food labels especially carefully.
19. When you eat in a restaurant, stress to the waiter that
you must avoid certain allergic foods.
20. Limit your use of common household chemical cleaners,
as the fumes can trigger allergic attacks in some people (if
you must use them, wear a mask while you do).
21. Use polyester-fill pillows and comforters instead of feather
(or down), and cover them in allergy-reducing mite-proof covers.
Says Dr. James R. Haltom of the Mississippi Allergy and Asthma
Clinic, "The number one thing and the single most important
thing an allergic person can do is to get the allergy-free
covers for the mattress, box springs and pillows ... And don't
be tempted to skip the box springs, because the mites infest
all of the bedding."
22. Don't put wallpaper or carpet in the bathroom-mold can
grow under them.
23. When you're in the car, keep the windows up and use the
air conditioning.
24. Remove extra "stuff" from rooms that act as "dust
collectors." (Things like stuffed animals, knick-knacks,
picture frames and other collectibles.) "Generally, you
want to unclutter the bedroom so that there are not a lot
of things there to collect dust ... You want to have a more
Spartan-looking or a streamlined room," according to
Haltom.
25. Store clothes and other items in closed containers, if
possible, and don't store them under the bed.
26. Keep mice (and other rodents) out of your home! Multiple
studies have shown that between 75-84% of all homes have detectable
levels of mice allergens in them, which can provoke allergies
and asthma symptoms and full-blown attacks. Here again keeping
your home clean at a microscopic level with ultramicrofiber
cleaning tools like PerfectClean is essential.: for more information
we urge you to read That Little Mouse in Your House is Even
MORE Dangerous Than We Thought, and check out the recommended
reading below
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