5 Ways to Reduce Indoor Allergens Instantly

Allergies are the medical equivalent of unexpected guests who don’t wait for an invitation, and tend to outstay their welcome. Stubborn, unforgiving and ultimately quite draining, allergies (and certain people) can have a negative impact on your life.

Indoor allergens are often responsible for many sufferers’ symptoms. You don’t have to skip through a field of flowers or work in a dusty environment to be affected by allergens, because actually, many of them are already in your home, making themselves comfortable and unlikely to leave any time soon. Remind you of anyone?

Now, we can’t do much about that neighbour who’s trying just a little too hard to be your friend, but we can do something about the other relentless presence in your home. Here, we round up five simple ways you can keep your house as allergen-free as possible.

Remove visible mold

If you’ve noticed patches of mold creeping up your basement or bathroom walls, it’s definitely time to do something about it. Mold and other fungi grow in moist, humid environments, and can be responsible for year-round allergy symptoms – so be assertive when it comes to removing dampness.

Swap your carpets

If you’re not a fan of square slates, don’t worry. You can swap your carpets for hardwood flooring in this instance. Allergens become attached to the fine fibres and are difficult to remove, while dust mites inhabit cosy, comfortable areas like carpets, curtains and other upholstery around your home.

Wash bedding frequently

Washing your bedding in hot water, and using high heat to dry it, will also help when it comes to battling it out with allergens inside the home. The high temperatures will ensure that any pesky particles will detach themselves from the material, and you can sleep easy at night. Try to clean your bed sheets and pillowcases at least once a week.

Keep pets separate

Rather than saying goodbye to your beloved companions for good, why not try keeping them restricted to a specific area or room in the house? If your dog or cat has been outside, they’re likely to return to the house with particles on their fur. Avoid having animals in your bedroom, and keep them as clean as possible.

Invest in technology

By opting for an indoor air cleaner, such as a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) device, you’re instantly improving the quality of air in your home. Additionally, you can purchase an air quality tracker that not only detects the particles in your home, but identifies them as well. Sensio AIR is set to hit shelves next year – find out more about the innovative device here.

Sources

http://www.everydayhealth.com/allergies/dust-mite-allergies.aspx

http://www.aafa.org/page/dust-mite-allergy.aspx

Image courtesy of Peter Raimann / Pixabay

#SensioAIR #asthma #allergy #respiratory #disease #triggers #cause #children #health #healthcare #symptoms #airpollution #allergens #illness #allergens #allergen #pet #pets #dander #fur #animals #animal #dogs #cats #dust #skin #tech #technology

Living with Allergies: 9 Things You Can Do to Keep Them at Bay

The popular misconception that seasonal allergies only take hold during hay fever season is exactly that – a misconception. If you’re an allergy sufferer, you’ll know only too well that the burden is a year-round one and difficult to avoid. The cooler autumn and winter months can bring about winter allergies (symptoms are often confused with the common cold) and before you know it, the seasons change again and spring allergies are next on the list. Trust us, we know how problematic your daily routine can be if you’re living with allergies.

With this in mind, we decided to discuss some of the things you can do (or not do) to prevent your allergies from controlling you and your everyday life. From washing your hair in the evening to wearing oversized shades, this round-up features an array of ideas for you to try.

Work out indoors

Sure, your carpet isn’t the same as the freshly-cut grass in the park you usually run through, but it’ll cause you less grief on high-pollen days. If you usually exercise outside, change up your routine and reap the benefits of a mat workout instead. You’ll inhale less pollen particles and still feel energised once you’re done.

Buy a HEPA filter

A HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter is no ordinary filter. Unlike standard air filters, HEPA ones were built to clean the air inside your home or office. How? Good question. In pushing your indoor air through a very fine mesh, the filter catches potentially harmful particles (like pollen) and removes an impressive 99.9% of the airborne pollutants that have taken over our homes.

Change your clothes (and your shoes)

If you’ve been outside for even part of the day, make sure you remove your shoes as soon as you enter the house – you’d be surprised at how much pollen you can pick up while out and about. To prevent the pesky particles from being trailed through your home, take your shoes off and give them a clean as soon as you arrive back home. Oh, and don’t stop at your shoes. Pollen can become attached to the fibres in your clothes, so change them too. Try to remove your clothes in the bathroom instead of the bedroom to prevent stray particles from becoming comfortable where you sleep – this will only cause you problems at night.

Monitor the air quality

One of the most important (and beneficial) things you can do if you’re sensitive to pollen is quite simple. Monitoring the air quality in your area can make a huge difference to your symptom outbreaks. By making small changes to your routine – depending on the air quality – you’ll notice a real improvement in terms of the frequency and severity of your symptoms. For instance, if your location is experiencing high levels of pollen on a particular day, avoid spending time outside and do as much as you can indoors, whether that’s working out or just working.

Keep your home fur-free

If you love animals (who doesn’t) and have one at home (same question) you’ll know how they like to make themselves comfortable. However, don’t be fooled into thinking that they won’t affect your symptoms because you’re not allergic to animals. Pets with long hair and a tendency to roam the great outdoors are likely to collect pollen particles on their fur, which, you guessed it, is then brought into your home and likely to cause your symptoms to make an unwanted appearance. Designate a certain part of your home to them, and prevent them from settling on your sofa or bed.

Talk to your doctor

Stay informed by having regular catch-ups with your GP. Don’t wait until your symptoms surface to book an appointment – make sure you discuss any concerns with them and ask for further advice when the pollen count is higher than usual. Taking the correct medication is important, and if the medicine you take doesn’t seem to be doing the trick, consult your GP to see what your options are.

Wash your hair in the evening

If you’re someone who likes a morning shower to get you ready for the day ahead, we have some bad news. Taking a shower in the evening before you go to bed is crucial if you’re sensitive to pollen. We know how it is. You’ve had a busy day and you can’t wait to climb into bed and catch up on that much-needed sleep, but take it from us – sleeping will pollen particles in your hair and on your body will cause your respiratory issues to worsen. Take a shower and thoroughly wash your hair in the PM after returning home to ensure you’re pollen-free before going to sleep.

Use a nasal rinse

This doesn’t sound like the most pleasant of activities, and it’s probably not on your daily to-do list, but using a nasal rinse can cause your symptoms to decline dramatically. Buy a sterile saline solution from your local pharmacy and you’ll see why. By flushing your nose with the rinse, you’re not only washing pollen away, but other problematic things like dust, pollutants and mucous. The rinse will also relieve any inflammation, which will have you breathing easier almost straight away.

Buy some sunglasses

If you’ve had your eye on a pair of sunglasses for a while, here’s the perfect excuse to give in and buy them. Wearing oversized shades protects your eyes from pollen, dust and other irritants – so be sure to carry them with you wherever you go.

Image courtesy of StockSnap, Pixabay

#SensioAIR #asthma #allergies #symptoms #triggers #respiratory #disease #health #wellbeing #tips #animals #pets #animalallergies #petallergies #home

9 Times Asthma Really, Really Got on Your Nerves

We know that asthma is serious, and understand how it can affect you on a day-to-day basis. While we’re here to offer advice and support, we’re also here to lighten the mood. Because if you can’t laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at? Here, we present the nine times asthma was the most annoying thing ever.

When you took the stairs

You’ve been fantasizing about a ground-floor apartment for months because of this. It doesn’t seem fair that climbing two short flights of stairs has you feeling like you’ve just run the London Marathon – except you don’t get a medal and no one is cheering you on.

When you went for a run

If you’re a parent to a child that’s old enough to call you out on your mistakes, you’ve probably attended a school sports day on more than one occasion. Yes, we too thought this meant grabbing the dog, a blanket and a picnic basket, but there’s actually a parents’ race for you to take part in. Do we need to continue?

When you were late for work

If I’m being honest, this actually happened to me this morning. It’s not the ideal situation to find yourself in at 8am, especially when you’ve only applied mascara to one eye, have your laptop clutched under your arm and a tendency to fall over. Oh, and asthma.

When you went on that date

Okay, so this one is particularly stressful. It’s Friday, you’ve spent a fortune on a new outfit and you’re actually “really excited about this one.” Fast-forward an hour and you realise mid-meal than you’ve left your inhaler at home and you’ll have to forego dessert.

When you saw that movie

For some bizarre reason, you decided to give your friends full control of your Netflix account and now you’re face-to-face with Ryan Gosling as he confesses his love to Rachel McAdams in the rain. Uncontrollable sobbing isn’t the best look, especially when you’re asthmatic.

When you took a plane

There’s only so many of those feeble little coughs you can get away with before you give up and give in. Being in a small, compact space next to a complete stranger is never fun – but if you’re prone to sneezing, wheezing and coughing, well, good luck.

When you walked the dog

Everyone loves getting outside once in a while, and what better way to enjoy the outdoors than a hike with a furry friend, right? Wrong. Whether they’re refusing to come back or busy leaping into rivers, they know how to make you sweat - and not in a good way.

When you bought perfume

This can be a real ordeal, and is usually why many opt for the scent in the prettiest bottle as opposed to the one that actually smells nice. Honestly, we can’t think of anything worse than having to pay out so much for something so little – all while having ‘eau de can’t breathe’ sprayed all over us.

When you went ‘out-out’

Unfortunately, alcohol can actually make your asthma worse – so after-work drinks can pose a risk (to your health, not your pride). The histamine in alcoholic drinks can trigger your symptoms, even after a few sips. So no, you’re not a lightweight, you’re just asthmatic. #asthma #allergy #respiratorydisease #triggers #cause #children #health #healthcare #symptoms #SensioAIR #airpollution #allergens #illness #allergens #allergen #pet #pets #dander #fur #animals #animal #dogs #cats #dust #skin #tech #technology #food #drink #alcohol #wine #travel #culture

Image courtesy of Suhyeon Choi, Unsplash