How To Make Your Home Safe When You Suffer From Allergies
If you suffer from allergies, or you have asthma made worse by indoor allergens, it's important to improve the air-quality in your home. Irritants such as smoke, fragrances, and cleaners can cause asthma flareups and make allergy reactions worse.
Remove Fragrances from Your Home to Help Your Breathing
When you have a reactive airway, even the slightest irritant can make allergy symptoms worse. Fragrances from scented candles, air-fresheners, or room sprays can make breathing difficult when you are susceptible to asthmatic reactions. If you have been recently diagnosed with asthma, stop using fragrances in your home and see if this improves your ability to breathe.
Smoke Is Another Irritant to Those with Allergies or Asthma
Whether it is smoke from a fireplace, or smoke from a cigarette, smoke in the air can trigger an asthma attack. If you happen to be a smoker, it's time for you to quit. If you live with a person that smokes indoors, they need to start smoking outside to help you breathe better. If you use a fireplace on occasion, you will have cleaner air if you stop using it. If you burn wood in order to heat your home, it could be time to consider a different source to heat your home.
Run the Air-Conditioning in Hot Weather
When the weather is warm, you will be tempted to open the windows to get fresh air. While this is important, high pollen counts can wreak havoc on your allergies. If you need to cool off your home, use an air-conditioner that contains a filter for pollen and mold spores. You can also check pollen counts when you check your weather forecast to see if it's a good time to open the windows. Pollen counts are the lowest in the afternoon, and highest in the early morning hours.
Use an Air Purifier on a Consistent Basis
Sometimes removing fragrances, decreasing pollen and refraining from smoke in the house aren't enough. If you continue to suffer from asthma flare ups, consider using an air purifier. An air purifier will remove irritants from the air, giving you cleaner air to breathe.
If dust mites are a problem for you, it's important to clean your bedding every week. Vacuum throughout your home at least weekly, using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. Keep dust to a minimum by polishing your furniture weekly. If your home contains an abundance of carpeting, consider removing some of it to reduce allergens.
As you work to make your home safe when you suffer from allergies, remember to take it one step at a time. Keep your home clean, avoid fragrances and smoke, and don't open windows when pollen counts are high. Talk to allergy specialists at places like The Regional Allergy Asthma & Immunology Center, PC for more tips and information.
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