Allergy Proof Your Home

It is amazing what people can be allergic to.  Foods, animals, molds, dust, pollens, chemical, insect stings or bites the list is long.  This article focus on common airborne allergen and looks at methods for allergy proofing your home.  First let us go over some of the more common allergy related terminology.

RAST Radioallogosobert Test- The blood test that allows physicians to pinpoint allergies.  It also rates the degree of you sensitivity.

Immunotherapy: At present, this is the only long term treatment available to desensitize allergy sufferers.  This involves a series of shots, over a space of years, with each successive shot containing an increased amount of the allergen in question.  While possibly unpleasant, such treatment has a height success right, and could allow you to keep that beloved pet.

Allergen: A substance that your body regards as alien and as an irritant, thus triggering an allergic reaction.  House dust, consisting of both indoor, and outdoor elements, dust mites, dander, molds and pollens are common allergens.  These sneeze inducing annoyances can be carried on animals or found in upholstered furniture, carpetes, drapes, towels, you name it.  Remember late summer is generally the most allergy intensive time, indoor allergens are a constant throughout the year.

Allergic Rhinitis: Commonly know as hay fever.

Allergy: An extreme reaction to an allergen, as a result of the release of histamine or histamine like substances into affected cells.  Note that some allergic type responses like asthma, are thought by some to be prompted by stress.  Ask your doctor about this if you have any doubts.

Histamine:  A substance released by your immune system after an encounter with an allergen.  This results in annoying symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, itching and swelling.

Anaphylaxis: Life threatening response to an allergen.  If this occurs, do not hesitate.  Find a doctor. Symptoms Wheezing or difficulty in breathing, lightheadedness or dizziness indicating lowered blood pressure, rapid or irregular heartbeat, possible swelling or hives and unconsciousness.

Animal Dander:  It is not normally fur or feathers that act as allergens, but rather animal or even human dander, also known as dandruff.  It is best to be tested by an allergist for dander hypersensitivity.

HEPA (high efficiency particulate air)  This label is seen on specially built air filters that, with their microscopic pores, can filter out allergens. To reduce airborne allergens, equip your air conditioning or heating units with such filters.  You can also purchase at reasonable prices HEPA adapted vacuum cleaners.

Now what can one do about their allergies?  As stared about, shots may be required in any case, if at all possible you will want to remove whatever is causing the problem.  This could mean getting rid of a wood burning stove, some overstuffed and possibly dust mite infested furniture, or even all carpeting, which houses hoards of potentially dangerous microscopic critters.  You will also want to clean every surface, and wash all fabrics in your home.  Upholstery, drapes, towels, and bedding should be cleaned thoroughly and on a regular basis. Also hard surfaces like window sills, floors, walls, cabinet fronts and interiors and countertops need  to be washed down.  Even with the utmost care, it may be a full six months before the full benefits are reaped.

If it is a matter of pets, you have got choices.  There are always shots or doctor prescribed oral medications for less severe cases.  If the pet remains indoors, ideally someone also can care for it..  This person would also wash the animal often.  If you do this, you avoid excessive contact, and the cleaner the animal is, the less dander it will spread.  Throw in a good vacuuming at least twice a week, and you are on your way to a healthier, less allergic you.  Of course, you might choose to keep the animal outdoors.  Still, where an animal is concerned., always stop to ask yourself if the treatment you are considering is the best thing for it. It may simply be that you need to rind a new and loving home for your furry or feathered friend.

Allergies can pop up in anyone in any stage of life.  For more detail call you doctor or check on line for Web sites that specialize in allergy prevention.

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