Avoiding Allergy Triggers
The first step to treating your allergies is to limit your exposure to your triggers. This can improve symptoms.
By Emily Gurnon, Contributing Writer
Allergies are common in people of all ages in the United States. But if you know what sets them off for you, you can work to avoid the triggers and help side-step some of the unpleasant symptoms of allergies. If you also have asthma, avoiding certain allergens can help limit those symptoms as well.
For some people, their trigger may be just one allergen; others may have several. If you are allergic to dust mites, follow the tips below. If pollen sets you off, follow the pollen tips.
Here are some hints to keep your misery to a minimum. Choose only those that affect you.
Dust mite control
Dust mites are microscopic cousins to the spider. They feed off skin cells shed by people and animals. They flourish in warm and humid environments. You can never completely banish dust mites from your home — even if you clean until it sparkles. But you can diminish their ranks by taking the following steps:
- Use allergy casings for pillows and mattresses.
- Wash bedding in hot water (at least 130 to 140 degrees) once a week to kill dust mites. Freezing bedding overnight will also kill the mites.
- Wash stuffed animals.
- Choose bedding made from synthetic materials instead of feathers or wool.
- Use a dehumidifier to keep humidity at 50 percent or lower.
- Choose hard flooring instead of carpeting. Remove fabric curtains and upholstered furniture.
- Use a damp cloth or mop — not a dry one — to wipe dust.
- Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter or a double-layered micro-filter bag. This can trap allergens that would otherwise escape.
- Wear a mask while vacuuming. Go into a different room for 20 minutes after you vacuum to avoid any stirred-up allergens.
Pollen is produced by plants in the form of tiny grains. The grains must travel to a plant of the same kind for fertilization to take place. Pollen can travel in the air for miles. And most of the allergy-causing pollen comes from plants like ragweed, which make gigantic amounts of it. So it’s often not practical to tackle pollen allergies by eliminating offending plants from one area.
Instead, try these tips:
- Pay attention to pollen counts. Stay indoors if you can when the pollen count is highest, usually in the early morning. Levels are lower in late afternoons and after a soaking rain.
- Keep windows closed in your home and car.
- Don’t use window and attic fans. Use an air conditioner indoors to keep cool and keep pollen out.
- Dry your clothes in the dryer rather than outside on a clothesline. Pollen in the air can collect on clothing.
- Have someone else mow the lawn. If you have to mow, wear a mask and change your clothes afterward.
- Cover your ground with Irish moss, bunchgrass or dichondra instead of a traditional lawn. Those plants produce little pollen.
Molds are fungi that can grow inside or outside. They thrive in warm, damp and humid places. They are commonly found in basements and showers. Here are some ways you can avoid mold:
- Fix leaks that may be contributing to the mold.
- Keep home humidity levels no higher than 50 percent.
- Add mold inhibitors to paints before painting.
- Ventilate showers and cooking areas of your home.
- Avoid woody areas, cut grass and compost piles.
Visible mold should be cleaned from hard surfaces where you find it. Commercial products are available to get rid of mold. You can also try soap and water. If simple soap and water doesn’t work, you can use a bleach and water mixture of no more than 1 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water. If you choose to use bleach to clean up mold:
- Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners as it can produce dangerous, toxic fumes.
- Open windows and doors to provide fresh air.
- Wear non-porous gloves and protective eye wear.
- If the area to be cleaned is more than 10 square feet, consult the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guide titledMold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings.
- Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using bleach or any other cleaning product.
Animal allergen control
Contrary to popular belief, it is not an animal’s fur that makes allergy sufferers wheeze and sneeze. Instead, allergies are irritated by proteins from oil glands; these proteins are shed as dander. Other troublesome proteins come from saliva deposited on fur when Fluffy licks herself. Particles of urine from rodents can also get into the air and aggravate allergies.
The best way to diminish allergic reactions from animals is to remove them from your home. If you can’t do that, try the following:
- Give your pets a bath once a week to reduce allergens.
- Wear a dust mask and gloves around rodents.
- Keep pets out of bedrooms.
- If possible, keep animals in rooms where there is no carpet or upholstered furniture.
- Always wash your hands after playing with your pet.
- Ask another family member to clean litter boxes and soiled cages.
- Use a damp cloth when dusting and wipe down hard floors often.