Allergies, Pollens, Asthma, and Air Filters

Allergies and asthma are a major cause of illness and disability, affecting allergic Americans from infants to seniors. Because allergies are cumulative, building in allergic symptom severity with each successive allergen exposure, minimizing exposure to all allergens is vital for all allergic individuals. Fortunately, information about allergies and allergy control products can help allergic people to live normal lives without incurring permanent damage to lungs or risking death from an asthma attack or life-threatening food allergies.

Common allergies

• Airborne Pollen Allergies - allergies and asthma symptoms triggered by trees, grass, plants and flowers.
• Dust Mite Allergies - allergies and asthma symptoms activated by microscopic bugs that live in carpets, upholstered furniture, bed linens, mattresses and box springs, animal dander and house dust.
• Pet Allergies - allergies and asthma symptoms triggered by animal dander, old skin scales.
• Mold Allergies - allergies and asthma symptoms set off by mold, mildew and fungi, inside and out.
• Food Allergies - allergies and asthma symptoms triggered by something eaten.
• Although any food can cause an allergy, life-threatening food allergies can be caused by allergic reactions to peanuts, shellfish, citrus and monosodium glutamate (MSG).

Allergy symptoms are caused by too much immunity. Everyone's system produces antibodies to fight infection. An allergic person's system produces an allergy antibody (IgE) in response to allergens. Allergens include substances in our environment such as pollen proteins. For an allergic individual, an allergy antibody is a fuse that ignites an allergy bomb - allergy cells that release histamine and other natural chemicals that cause allergic symptoms. Histamine can be released anywhere in the allergy-prone victim's body. Histamine released in the nose causes sneezing and a runny nose; in the lungs causes bronchial spasms or wheezing; in the skin causes itching or hives; in the stomach causes nausea. If histamine is released through the body, a life-threatening allergic reaction -anaphylaxis- can be produced causing death without immediate treatment.

Since avoiding allergens is the best solution for allergy and asthma sufferers, we offers these suggestions to make your home an allergen-free haven for the allergy and asthma sufferer.

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Reduce your exposure to dust mite allergens

• Remove carpets and keep upholstered furniture to a minimum.
• If you keep carpets and upholstered furniture in the home, regular use of Allersearch/ADS Spray, a tannic acid solution breaks down dust mite allergens, pollen allergens, mold spores and animal dander into harmless materials.
• X-Mite, a moist powder, can be brushed into carpets, allow to dry for three hours, and then vacuumed. X-Mite safely deactivates allergens created by dust mites, pets and certain pollens. At the same time, X-Mite cleans and refreshes velvet, velour, corduroy, carpets and other textiles. Frequent cleaning is important since dust mites constantly produce the fecal matter that causes allergic reactions.
• Another product is a dry cleaner formulated to safely clean carpeting and render allergens consisting of dust mites, household pet dander,mildew,mold and pollen harmless. No special tools required;however it works with all powder carpet machines including Host,Capture and Lindhaus.
• Encase your mattress, box springs and pillows in allergy-free, washable zippered encasings.
• Use a hepa, ozone or ionizer air purifier to control odors, dust, pollen, mold, animal dander, as well as some bacteria.
• Purchase a reusable air filter to capture and remove 90% of the large allergens like mold spores and pet dander from the air passing through the filter.
• Use an air purifier in the bedroom of the allergy sufferer.
• Hang clothes in your closet and shut the door, or put them in dresser drawers.
• Wash all bedding with in hot water to reduce the dust mite population.
• Keep pets out of the bedroom; they are a popular feeding source for dust mite allergens.
• Cooler night time temperatures (between 68 and 72 degrees) promote better sleep for the allergic individual.

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Reduce your exposure to house dust

• Leave the dusting and vacuuming to someone without house dust allergies or dust mite allergies.
• When you dust, wear a dust mask to limit dust allergens and avoid making dust airborne. Be sure your vacuum cleaner is using microlined vacuum bags and hepa filters.
• When you vacuum, wear a dust mask or pollen mask to avoid allergens and use a vacuum cleaner with an anti-allergen high-efficiency HEPA filter.
• Also available are electrostatically charged cleaning cloths which attract and hold dust keeping it from becoming airborne.
• Use a damp mop and damp cloth on floors, windowsills, under furniture, on window blind slats, bedsprings and other dust catchers.
• Keep pets and pet dander allergens out of the house. Your family"s allergy-free health is more important than the habits of your pet.
• Install a high-performance allergy-free reusable air filter in your central air conditioning and heating system to household dust.

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Reduce your exposure to pollens

• Educate yourself and your family about the pollen allergy season and the local pollen allergen timetable.
• Stay indoors during peak pollen allergy seasons.
• Keep windows and doors closed. "Fresh air" is not "fresh" for allergic individuals.
• Caulk and seal windows to stop pollen and dust infiltration.
• Wear a pollen mask when working outside, doing household tasks, or grooming pets.
• Bathe pets frequently and keep pets outdoors. Pets bring pollen inside on their fur and dust mite feast on pet dander.
• Replace regular filters on air conditioning system air returns with a reusable air filter

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