Pollen Allergy Symptoms Invest In An Air Purifier For Your Home
Designed to dramatically reduce the impact of indoor air pollutants, allergens and bacteria, investing in an air purifier is one of the easiest ways to actively tackle the presence of allergens in your home.
The Vax Pure Air 300 uses smart sensor technology to monitor the air quality in your home, ultimately removing 99 per cent of potential harmful airborne allergens from the air stream. Trapping dust and pollen particles present in the air, it’s a game changer for those suffering with the effects of allergies and asthma and has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from users.
Asthma Triggers In The Home
Some of the more common household asthma triggers include:
- dust mites which love warm, moist conditions and thrive in bedding and carpets. Their droppings cause the allergic reaction
- moulds which need moist environments with poor ventilation
- pollens from trees, plants and grasses
- pets because of their fur, skin or scales
- other triggers including cold dry air, smoke, certain foods, chemicals and perfumes.
Identify Common Asthma Triggers
If you live with asthma yourself or have a friend with this condition, youre aware that each person has a set of triggers to be on the lookout for. Triggers are anything that could irritate the bronchial tubes and cause them to swellcreating an asthma attack. Knowing some of these triggers is essential to keeping them out of your home and making it a healthier environment overall. Some common triggers to consider include dust, hair, pet dander, and airborne toxins or chemical fumes.
Say Goodbye To Carpeting
Dust mites are one of the main culprits when it comes to triggering asthma attacks and allergic reactions. This means that it is imperative to keep your home as dust-free as possible. It also means that you should try to minimize any surfaces that could be a breeding ground for dust mites.
Carpeting is one such surface. As such, it is a good idea to replace any carpets in your home with wooden or tiled flooring. Not only are these easier to clean, but they do not come with all the nooks and crannies where dust mites could thrive. According to the lifestyle website reviewbox.es, carpets also tend to accumulate debris, such as skin flakes that fall off our bodies, which are a favorite food for dust mites. If you cant go without carpeting, opt for a low pile version and vacuum it frequently. If you have rugs or floor mats, wash these weekly, the website states.
Improve Indoor Air Quality
While you may not have the ability to adjust office building structures or HVAC systems, there are simpler ways of creating an asthma-friendly workplace that does not involve extensive and expensive building construction. Air quality products like humidifiers and air purifiers can make all the difference for asthmatics battling poor office air quality.
Ventas evaporative humidifier, the Venta Airwasher, was designed for offices. Busy workdays go uninterrupted by the Airwashers quiet operation. Unlike traditional humidifiers that produce visible hot steam or cool mist, the Airwashers humidification is invisible, ensuring it never becomes a distraction in the office.
This unique feature is also an added benefit for asthmatics. Humidifiers that produce forced-moisture steam or mist can produce too much humidity, causing mold growth, a trigger for asthmatics. The Airwashers cold evaporation technology provides even moisture dispersal, so asthma and allergy sufferers alike can breathe easily without the danger of over-humidification.
While adding just the right amount of moisture to the air, the Airwasher naturally reduces indoor air pollutants which are trapped in the units reservoir so only pure, humidified air is released back into the room. For any asthma sufferer, the Airwasher is an ideal product to have in the office.
Keeping Carpets Clean Or Getting Rid Of Them Altogether
“All wood floors. No rugs or carpets.””I have hardwood floors and vacuum and wet dust mop frequently.””Laminate and vinyl flooring replaced carpet years ago.”
Having and rugs could hold certain pollutants that may trigger our asthma. This includes dust mites, animal dander, pollen, and other allergens. As a solution, many of our members have shared that wood, tile, and vinyl flooring has made a huge improvement in their asthma control. With these types of flooring, it is much easier to maintain and regularly clean with a wet mop. Sweeping causes the dust to spread throughout the home, so it is suggested to use a mop or wet cloth when cleaning our floors. However, some of us may not be able to remove our carpets so it’s important to try to vacuum regularly to minimize the amount of allergen buildup. Small rugs can also be a great alternative since they can be cleaned a lot easier than carpets.
Method 1 Of 3:removing Dust And Dust Mites
How To Make Your Home Asthma
Asthmatics have difficulty breathing. This is due to an obstruction in the tubes located in the lungs. When a person has asthma, their airways typically become filled with mucus and swollen.
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Asthma symptoms begin or worsen as a result of triggers. Triggers of asthma include the following:
- pollutants in the air, such as smog, smoke, and chemicals
- pollen
- aerosol sprays
- gas or paint odors
Triggers, for the most part, are not harmful. They, on the other hand, exaggerate the symptoms. In other words, they can aggravate asthmatic symptoms such as wheezing, difficulty breathing, and coughing.
Once your doctor has diagnosed you with asthma, he or she will work with you to identify your triggers. If you are struggling with making your home asthmatic-friendly, an allergy doctor in Hudson Valley can offer excellent advice.
Its critical to understand how to deal with triggers in your own home. This is particularly true in areas where you enjoy spending most of your time, such as your den or living room.
Keep Your Pet Outdoors
If you have asthma, having a pet can be challenging. But keep in mind that the problem is not often their fur. It is what grows and lives in their hair and skin.
That said, the best way to have pets without triggering your allergy is to keep them outdoors. They can roam around your living room, but do not let your pets in your bedroom.
Grooming your pet should be done outside by someone who does not suffer from allergies. And always wash your hands after having some fun time with your pets.
How To Make Your Home Asthma Friendly
Summer vacation means that kids are spending more time at home than at any other time of the year. If you have wheezy kids youre probably already aware that certain areas in the house, such as childrens bedrooms, need to be wheezy-friendly but did you know that there are other parts of the home that people often overlook?
This time of year is the perfect opportunity to make your home more asthma and allergen friendly. After all, its the place where you and your family spend the most time!
What Are Animal Allergens
Animals can be a big asthma trigger. The animal parts that can trigger asthma symptoms are dander , saliva , urine , and feathers.
If your pet is an asthma trigger for you, these tips might help:
- Keep pets outside. At the very least, keep them out of your bedroom.
- Have someone else wash and brush your pet every week.
- Play with your pet, but try not to hug or kiss it.
- Ask other people in your household to wash their hands after touching your pet.
- If you have an animal that lives in a cage, keep it in a room that you don’t spend time in. Someone other than you should clean the cage daily.
- Consider getting cold-blooded pets, such as fish, which are OK for kids with asthma.
If you try all these things but still have lots of asthma flare-ups, you may need to find another home for your pet.
Neutralizing Other Asthma Triggers
Limiting exposure to dust mites is the first step, but most people with asthma have multiple triggers. Reducing exposure to all asthma triggers is the goal.
A study published in March 2017 in the Journal of Asthma and Allergy reviewed the importance of avoiding indoor triggers like mold, pets, cockroaches, and rodents, in addition to dust mites.
High humidity in particular leads to a worsening of asthma symptoms, called an exacerbation, because where you find humidity, you find not just an increase in dust mites, but also mold.
Mildew, pet hair and pet dander, cockroaches, and rodents can also trigger an asthma attack.
The problem is that doing what it takes to remove so many allergens from your home and bedroom can be expensive, Rabito adds. You can prioritize though. For example, some people are very allergic to cockroach droppings, so for them, eliminating cockroaches from the home is important.
Try a three-pronged approach to fighting these pests: Prevent cockroaches from entering the home, dont leave food where they can get to it, and use roach traps or sprays to kill them.
You can also reduce allergens in the bedroom to help prevent asthma attacks by:
Turning bedrooms into allergen-free zones can make a real difference in your familys health and significantly reduce the likelihood of an asthma attack. Then you can all sleep more soundly.
What If Cockroaches Are A Trigger
And pets aren’t the only living triggers at home cockroaches can be a major asthma trigger that can be difficult to avoid in apartments. If cockroaches are a problem:
- Don’t save boxes, paper bags, or newspapers.
- Don’t leave open food or dirty dishes lying around your kitchen. Keep counters free of crumbs or spills.
- Keep garbage containers closed and wash recyclables before putting them in the bin.
You want to be comfortable at home where you spend most of your time so try to remove as many asthma triggers as you can. When your house doesn’t cause asthma flare-ups, it really is home, sweet home!
B Control The Air Flow
You may think that leaving the windows open will help keep the air in your house fresh. However, leaving windows and doors open can allow pollen and other triggers to enter your home. It can be beneficial to keep your windows and doors shut and use air conditioning instead. You can check the air quality and pollen count of your local area online. If you do prefer to keep windows open, then you should check the air quality beforehand.
How To Ensure Your Home Is Allergy And Asthma Friendly
According to research, five percent of Spaniards suffer from asthma. While this may not seem like a lot, that is over 2 million people. Add those who suffer from allergies to this number, and you have a massive chunk of the population who are experiencing discomfort regularly. Asthma and allergies can be triggered by a wide variety of factors, both ones that you can and cannot control. Luckily, there are several steps you can take to minimize these triggers inside your home. Here are just a few tips to get you started.
Top Tips For Managing Asthma & Asthma
In honour of Asthma Awareness Week 2019, we bring you some top tips for managing asthma and making your home a more asthma…
In honour of Asthma Awareness Month, we bring you some top tips for managing and making your home a more asthma-friendly place.
*Information adapted from the Asthma Society of Ireland
Get Rid Of Dust Mites
If exposed to dust mites on a regular and long-term basis, they can significantly trigger an asthma attack. Unfortunately, they stimulate the immune system, resulting in mild to severe allergies. They are known to cause itchy eyes, a runny nose, and sneezing. Dust mites have even been shown in studies to release free radicals, damaging proteins, DNA, and lipids. This worsens asthmatic symptoms. Cells can eventually die if the body does not repair these cellular components.
Use dust-proof covers on all pillows and mattresses. Dust mites will be kept at bay as a result of this. Also, wash your blankets and sheets in hot water regularly.
Reducing Triggers From Animals And Cockroaches
Animals are a significant asthma trigger as many as 30% of people with asthma are allergic to one or more animals. Allergic symptoms are caused by the bodys reaction to a specific protein found in the animals saliva, urine, or dander .
Animal hair itself does not cause allergies, but it can collect mites, pollen, and mold. And any animal that lives in a cage, from birds to gerbils, will produce droppings that can attract mold and dust. If you have a pet and your child is allergic to it, your best bet is to find the animal another home.
Short of getting rid of a pet, try these steps :
- Keep pets outside. If you cant, at least keep them out of your childs bedroom and playroom.
- Wash and brush your pet every week.
- Make sure your child doesnt play with or touch your pet and keep him or her away from the litter box if you have a cat.
- Wash your hands after touching your pet.
- If you have a pet that lives in a cage, keep it in a room that your child doesnt spend time in regularly. Also, have someone other than your child clean the cage daily.
Cockroaches are another major asthma trigger that can be difficult to avoid in multifamily dwellings, especially in urban areas.
To avoid cockroaches:
How To Make Your Home More Asthma
If you or someone else in your home suffers from asthma, its important to minimize any asthma triggers as much as possible. Asthma triggers such as dust mites, pollen, or mold spores may not have much of an effect on most people, but they can cause dangerous flareups when inhaled by people who have asthma. Fortunately, you can reduce asthma triggers in your home and create a safer environment in several ways. Here are some tips on how to make your home more asthma-friendly.
How Do Home Ventilation Systems Work
Home ventilation systems are installed within your roof space. They draw incoming air from two areas:
The incoming air is filtered of toxins, like pollens, dust mites and dander. It is then distributed throughout your home driving out existing stale air through cracks around your doors, windows or specially-installed vents. This is called Positive pressure.
Asthma Friendly Child Care Centres:
- Create a supportive learning environment for children with asthma
- Reduce absenteeism
- Reduce disruption in the classroom
- Help children with asthma participate fully in child care centre activities, including active play
- Improve communication between centre personnel, parents/guardians, and health care providers regarding the childs asthma
The following seven steps can assist with the creation of an asthma friendly child care centre:
Step 1. Establish a process to identify children with asthma
In order to support children with asthma it is important for all staff to understand who has asthma. Parent/guardians are encouraged to notify the organization about their childs asthma .
Step 2. Ensure children with asthma have quick access to asthma medication
Asthma can worsen quickly so easy quick access to asthma medication is very important. Asthma can be life-threatening. Most children aged seven years or older are capable of deciding when medication is required. At seven years or older they are also often capable of administering their medication correctly. Younger children will need assistance with administering medication. It is important for staff to know which children require assistance and how to administer the medication properly .
Step 3. Establish a process for handling worsening asthma.
Step 4. Identify and reduce common asthma triggers within the organization.
Step 6. Provide opportunities for asthma education .
Be Prepared With Medication
Just because a colleague uses a certain type of inhaler does not mean you should be using the same one. Consulting with your doctor for what medications are right for you is critical in managing your asthma. Keep any medication or inhaler on hand at the office in case of an attack. Just as you would let the school nurse know about your condition in case of an emergency, inform colleagues and management of your asthma.
What Are Dust Mites
Dust mites are tiny insects that live in dust. You’ll find lots of them where there is food, in some kinds of bedding, and in rugs. Bedrooms usually have the most dust mites in a house.
You and your family won’t be able to get rid of all the dust mites at home but you can take these steps if they’re a trigger for your asthma:
- Vacuum and dust at least once a week.
- Stay away from feather or down pillows or comforters.
- Every few weeks, wash all of your bedding in hot water and then dry it on a high setting.
- Get special covers for your mattresses, pillows, and boxsprings.
- Get rid of carpeting, especially wall-to-wall or shag carpeting in your room.
- Clean up the clutter in your room. Get rid of knickknacks, picture frames, and stuffed animals that collect dust. If you can’t part with them, store them somewhere other than your room.
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Minimize Use Of Aerosol Sprays
When aerosols are inhaled, they cause an immune response in the airways. This causes the release of a variety of chemicals, such as histamines or leukotrienes. They cause lung inflammation, excessive mucus production, and the recruitment of more immune cells to the area. Unfortunately, this sets off a chain reaction that results in an asthma attack.
Aerosols easily trigger an attack especially, if they are used daily. If sprays are required, it is best to open a window to allow the air in the room to circulate. Also, for a couple of hours, avoid all rooms where aerosols have been sprayed.
How Do Home Ventilation Systems Help
Home ventilation systems are effective at removing many asthma triggers. This is because rather than circulating air throughout your home, which contains toxins, they replace it with filtered air.
And the regeneration of air in your home is important for your health. The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers recommend that homes should have enough ventilation to exchange the air once every four hours.
What About Air Conditioners
Air conditioners reduce humidity, filter, heat and cool the air in your home . Air distributed by domestic air conditioners is recycled. Your average domestic split cycle system recycles 100% of its air with no fresh air drawn from outside you need to open doors and windows to let fresh air in. Commercial buildings have systems which draw just 10% from outside.
In contrast, home ventilation systems continually draw fresh filtered air into your home.
Home ventilation systems dont replace air conditioners though their ability to warm or cool your home is dependent on climatic conditions. They will, however, reduce your reliance on them, which is a good thing as they are expensive to run.
Home ventilation systems are ideal for asthmatics. This is simply because they drive out the toxins and moisture from the air that can trigger asthma symptoms..
Allergies: 10 Ways To Make Your Home Allergy Friendly
Are you an allergy sufferer looking for tools to make your home more allergy friendly? Find practical advice and information on ways to prepare your home for allergy season and beyond
Looking for easy and effective ways to prepare your home for allergy season? Maybe you suffer from spring allergies? Or perhaps you want to make your home as allergy-free as possible?
We’ve pulled together a list of handy tips, tricks and buys that cover everything from reducing allergens in the home to avoiding them in the first place. There are tons more cleaning buys, tricks and hacks suitable for allergy-sufferers on our hub page, too.
Decorate With Allergy Certified Paints
If you’ve never thought about how the paint present in your home might be affecting you allergy-wise, this allergy season might be the time to do so. The vast majority of paints available on the market contain chemicals that make living with allergies or asthma more difficult. With this in mind, opting to redecorate with an allergy certified VOC-free paint might be another easy way to prepare for allergy season.
Having recently launched their Breatheasy Range, Crown have demonstrated a commitment to easing the struggles of those living with asthmas and allergies; improving the indoor air environment and creating healthier homes. There is a wide range of colours and finishes available, meaning you don’t have to worry about allergies holding you back.
Taken from The Crown Breatheasy Paint Collection, this shade is called Mustard Jar
Store Inhalers And Medical Equipment Strategically
Make sure you think carefully about where you place your inhalers and respiratory monitoring devices. These items are critical to easing a persons symptoms and allowing them to catch their breath in the middle of an attack. In addition to a prescribed inhaler, having a pulse oximeter at home allows you to quickly check a persons oxygen levels and decipher whether theyre in a state of emergency. Its highly encouraged that you keep these things in strategic locations where you can easily access them when you need them.
Create An Asthma Action Plan
As weve discussed in previous posts, asthma action plans for children in schools are an important part of helping students manage their asthma. The same goes for adults in the workplace. Keeping track of triggers, peak flow readings, and medications helps keep you organized during an attack. This may also be useful for others to help during an emergency. Each asthma sufferer experiences different triggers and reactions, so it is important to keep your plan unique to you.
Organizations like the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and American Lung Association have downloadable PDF action plans that can be filled out and kept on file. Letting others know you have asthma and how they can help is also a necessary way to be asthma-ready in the workplace.
Dust Allergy Symptoms Spring Clean Your Home
The most important thing to do when preparing your home for allergy season is to: 1) embark on a mammoth spring clean and 2) stick to a thorough weekly cleaning regime, paying particular attention to areas that gather dust, pollen, pet dander or which are prone to supporting the growth of mould and mildew.
That means knowing how to clean carpets, mattresses, pet beds, upholstery and window dressings in particular, but look out for mould in bathrooms and damp rooms, too. Follow our guides below to get the job done fast and thoroughly :
We’d recommend using a specialist mould spray , or white vinegar to attack areas where mould is prevalent. Vinegar is something of a wonder ingredient when it comes to allergy-free cleaning of the home. Discover more ways to use vinegar to clean your home in our guide.