Wednesday, October 22, 2008

What You Need to Know Before Choosing Your Allergy Relief Air Purifier

For a person who suffers with an allergy, each day can seem like a living hell. The goal, therefore, is to find suitable methods to overcome the symptoms. Your doctor will usually recommend medications which can be effective in helping control the symptoms. However, if the allergy is environmental in nature, including dust in the air and on your furniture, then installing an allergy relief air purifier makes perfect sense.

An allergy relief air purifier is an efficient means of removing virtually every allergen present in the air, and this in turn ensures better health as well as allergy-free living.

In a modern home there are dozens of allergy inducing things. Kitty litter dust, tobacco smoke, indoor pesticides and aerosols, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's) found in items like paint, varnish, cleaning supplies, disinfectants, glues and adhesives in carpeting and furniture. Ingredients such as benzene, chloride, formaldehyde, and ethylene can all irritate the eyes, nose, throat and airways.

There are facts to consider before buying an air purifier.

Rather than act on impulse it is better to carefully assess the pros and cons of various models and makes. Make sure that you  consider the size of your home or the room in which you want to install this device. It is also necessary to understand the process by which an allergy relief air purifier works. Other factors worth taking into account include recurring costs as well as total cost and the efficiency of the purifier.

Before buying your allergy relief air purifier, measure the room you wish to clean. To ensure that the calculations are correct, you should sketch the room out on paper and write the measurements on each part of the sketch. Do not forget the height of the room. By knowing the size of the room, the sales person can determine which capacity of allergy relief air purifier will suit your needs the best.

There are 3 common methods used.

(1) Carbon Filters - mainly for odours (animal dander as well)

(2) Electrostatic Filters - no replacement filters (just clean it)

(3) HEPA Filters - can remove 99.97% of particles (but filters need replacing)

Thus, the decision is usually between the Electrostatic and the HEPA methods. You should also verify if there are any other maintenance costs.

Before you rush off to the store, there is one more fact you should ask the sales person about. What is the unit's CADR, or Clean Air Delivery Rate? This industry rating has been specially designed by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturer's to help consumers know how well an air purifier actually works.

With all this info in hand, you are ready to make an informed decision, and start to have more relief from allergy symptoms.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Tips to Using Allergy Medicine

Allergies can be a very difficult condition to deal with. Not only can they be uncomfortable and annoying, but when left untreated they can actually result in more serious health problems developing.

There are a few tips that are very important to remember when it comes to using an allergy medicine. Most of these tips would relate to any type of medicine, but here we are going to be discussing them specifically in relation to using an over the counter allergy medicine or any other type of allergy medicine that your doctor may prescribe.

Be Sensible

The best tip to remember when you are taking an allergy medicine is to be sensible. This sounds simple enough, right? It is pretty amazing then the amount of people who use allergy medicines carelessly. Many people think that these are just mild medicines and so they can take them as many times as they want, without worry.

Follow Dosage Instructions

This leads us to our next tip, which is to follow proper dosage instructions. Always take your allergy medicine as your doctor told you to, and certainly never think that just because you may take more of it, that you are going to see better results because this will not be the case at all. In fact, if anything your allergies will end up getting even worse because the allergy medicine will counteract when it is not being used properly

Educate Yourself

It is very important to educate yourself on any medication before you start taking it. Even though your own doctor may prescribe it and it may be a very safe medication, you should still be aware of what it is, what medication you are going to be putting in your body, especially if you were told to take it on a regular basis.

So that you know what to expect and can be prepared if you ever experience any of these yourself from taking the medication, you are going to need to learn specifically about the different side effects and symptoms that are commonly associated with the medication.

The best thing you can do, if you are suffering from allergies as so many people around the world do, is for you to work as a team with your doctor on this. They will be able to ensure that you are taking the right products for your allergies and that you are making proper progress.

View more articles at www.allergies.jsgenterprises.com.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Natural Pet Allergy Treatment Options Are Simple And Effective

Even though you may have a deep love for animals; sometimes you could develop pet allergies after coming into contact with them. In fact, it is also common for some people to develop pet allergies even after having kept pets for several years. The sad part is that your love for animals can be put to severe test if you develop pet allergy and this allergy in turn will make you suffer from ill health. Itchiness in the skin, wheezing, as well as having eyes that water constantly are some of the common symptoms of pet allergies.

Part With Your Pet

If pet allergy treatment does not work in controlling symptoms of your pet allergy you may even be forced into parting with your pet. However, some people are so fond of their pets that they will not contemplate giving them up. A solution for such people is to ensure reducing dander in the home and to also remove allergens in the home so that the chances of developing pet allergy are greatly reduced.

There are however a few simple natural pet allergy treatment options worth trying out. For one, you need to ensure that your pet is not allowed anywhere near your sleeping area and to also ensure that the pet is not allowed on to your furniture. These are relatively simple natural pet allergy treatment options and should be followed strictly to prevent pet allergy from affecting you.

Another natural pet allergy treatment option is to bathe the pet every week and when brushing the pet to remember and do so outside of the house and on a daily basis as well. These measures will help in reducing the quantity of dander that the pet carries within the home. In a similar vein, another simple natural pet allergy treatment option is to convert your pet into an outside pet and to not let him stay indoors with you.

On a daily basis you will also need to vacuum your carpets and also damp out dust at least once in a week. Other than this, you need to ensure washing your hands with a good soap each time you have played with or touched your pet. Other simple pet allergy treatments include installing air purifier in the home which will remove pet dander from the air and to have wooden floors instead of carpeting the floors which will only trap the allergens and that will mean increasing the risk of pet allergies.

Allergy asthma is very often noticed among children and also in young adults and to prevent and treat this condition requires learning about effective allergy asthma treatment such as becoming physically active and playing sports and games.

Another pet allergy treatment option to consider is choosing an allergy friendly pet. This means that small birds as well as small dogs are known to carry fewer quantities of dander and so will therefore pose less of a threat in regard to risk of pet allergy.

View more articles at www.allergies.jsgenterprises.com.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Child food allergy

Often Unrecognized, Often Undiagnosed, Delayed Food Allergy In Children


You might find it surprising that not all allergies present with a fast-responding allergic reaction; you might find it surprising that it can be as long as three days before symptoms of an allergy present as a noteworthy reaction.All of the above are nevertheless true,and they are especially true of food allergies.  The condition even has a name, despite the fact that these food allergies often go undiagnosed—Delayed Food Allergy.

How Can Food Allergy Reactions Be Delayed?

Food molecules begin to be absorbed when they enter the mouth and digestive track, but they also continue to be broken down as food moves through the body.  This means that some allergens found in foods will not be in a form that can aggravate until after some processing has occurred; it also means that some allergens will not build up to an intolerable level until after a time of processing.  All of this processing can take a fair amount of time, and delayed food allergy in children may not present symptoms for some time; it can take a few hours, or as long as twelve hours or three days for a delayed food allergy reaction in a child to show up.

So Many Symptoms, So Easily Mistaken

It's fairly easy to figure out that a child has an allergy to a food when the symptoms come on fast and present obviously; but it's a much different story when a food allergy reaction is delayed.

A sudden-onset food allergy reaction will normally present with itching of the face, throat, or mouth, and may also cause hives and swelling. 

These symptoms may also be present when there is delayed food allergy in children, but it may take hours before they occur.  More commonly, though, the symptoms of delayed food allergy in children are those that can easily pass for something other than an allergy, and that is why delayed food allergy in children is so often left undiagnosed.  The symptoms that are often missed in a food allergy in children include:

• Stomach upset
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain and cramps
• Constipation
• Congestion
• Headache
ADHD
• Mood changes
• Muscle or joint pain
• Gastrointestinal disease or condition

Obviously, each of these are symptoms that can easily be attributed to a wide variety of allergies and illnesses.  When other allergies cannot be found, or symptoms seem to coincidentally come on after certain foods are eaten, it might be wise to start considering the possibility of delayed food allergy in children.

In truth, many delayed food allergies in children fall more easily into the category of food intolerance rather than food allergy because there is no association with the allergy immune antibody IgE, the antibody that classically defines a reaction as an allergy.  The difference is really worth noting only for the sake of immunotherapy and the selection of medications.  It is worth exploring for some children, but as treatment of food allergies and intolerances relies more heavily on avoidance of offensive foods, identifying the trigger of a delayed food allergy in a child is often enough.

Symptoms So Easily Missed, Why Do They Matter?

It stands to reason that if something is not causing much of a notable problem, it's really not much of a concern at all; but that is not really the case in regards to delayed food allergy in children. As mentioned above, knowing that there is a problem with a delayed food allergy in a child and finding out what the source of the allergy is is imperative to management of the allergy.

Management of delayed food allergy in children is important because no child should live their life in pain or discomfort when there is another option.  Couple this with the fact that delayed food allergy in children may be causing chronic and secondary conditions such as asthma, and you have some very good reasons to explore the possibility of delayed food allergy in children.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Information on Infant Food Allergies

You may be concerned about him or her having a baby food allergy, if you have a baby. The percentage of children and infants with food allergies is still proportionately low, while the number of cases of food allergies has exponentially expanded in the past decade. It is important to become educated on the subject of infant food allergies, especially, if you or someone in your family has food allergies or your baby has been showing symptoms of a possible baby food allergy.

Baby Food Allergy Symptoms

Any baby who has a food allergy will experience symptoms of that allergy. Common symptoms among infants are hives, chronic eczema and other food allergy rashes, gas, constipation, diarrhea, and inability to sleep due to excessive irritability. These symptoms are usually not life threatening and most likely point to a mild baby food allergy. However, continuing to give your child the allergen could possibly increase the symptoms and the severity of the reaction in the future.

Excessive swelling, problems or inability to breathe, swelling of the throat, lethargy, excessive tiredness, and even death are other more serious baby food allergy symptoms. If your child experiences any problems with breathing or swelling or even lethargy, call 9-1-1 immediately. You simply do not have time to rush your child to the hospital for help or to call your doctor as these reactions happen so quickly. You need paramedic help immediately.

Baby Food Allergy Information

Baby food allergies are not very common, but when they do occur almost all of them are caused by eight main foods. Chicken eggs, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts (such as walnuts, brazil nuts, and cashews), soy, milk, fish, and shellfish (such as shrimp, lobster, and crabs). If you are allergic to any of these foods, the best idea is to delay giving them to your child until he or she is at least two years old. Many allergies in children are caused by introducing the allergen too soon to a child. The general guideline is that a child should not have peanut butter until he or she is at least one, and much later if the parents or other siblings are allergic. So it only makes sense to delay introduction as long as possible, as baby food allergies can be caused by early introduction of the food.

Talk to your doctor about getting your child tested, if you are worried that your child has a baby food allergy that is exhibiting mild reactions.. For severe reactions, call 9-1-1 immediately.

View more articles at www.allergies.jsgenterprises.com.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Air Purifiers Helps Alleviate Allergies

allergies symptoms

It is estimated that each year millions of Americans think about purchasing an air purifier for their home or their business. Are you one of those individuals?  If so, have you purchased an air purifier yet?  Unfortunately, a large number of individuals think about purchasing an air purifier, but not everyone ends up making that purchase. One of the reasons for that is because many individuals wonder whether or not they really need one.

When it comes to owning an air purifier, anyone can own one.  You do not necessarily have to meet certain criteria to be able to benefit from the use of an air purifier. Honestly, you could just be someone who is looking to breathe clean air.  If that is the case, you could definitely benefit from the purchase of an air purifier.  Despite the fact that some individuals have no set reason for wanting or needing an air purifier, there are others who do.  If you find yourself one of these individuals, as described below, you may want to seriously think about purchasing an air purifier for your home or your business.

Air purifiers work to clean the air. They do this by preventing harmful particles from passing through their collection grids or filters.  These particles may even include dust particles.  For that reason, if you have allergies associated with dust, you may very well find that an air purifier works to remove or completely eliminate your symptoms of allergy.  In turn, this may make your days and nights more pleasant and enjoyable.

In addition to reducing allergies associated with dust, air purifiers can also help those with allergies that are related pets.  You will find that multiple air purifiers not only trap pet hair, but they also trap the air particles created by pet droppings.  These dangerous particles are not only harmful to those who have a wheat allergy, but to everyone else who is in the home. In addition to eliminating particles created by pets in the home, you could also use an air purifier if you have a business that is centered on pets. These types of businesses include pet grooming shops and vet offices.

You may also want to think about purchasing an air purifier, especially if you have young children at home.  Children tend to be more susceptible to illness. With cleaner air, your child’s health may improve by a ton.  In addition to being used in traditional homes, you may also want to purchase an air purifier if you run or operate a daycare center.  An air purifier may not only improve your health, but the health of all of your children.  Essentially, this will make for happier and healthier children, which is extremely important when running a daycare business.

An air purifier may also be ideal for those who are smokers. Even if you are not a smoker, there may be someone inside your home who is.  If this is the case, you will want to seriously consider purchasing an air purifier.  Most air purifiers, especially those designed specifically for smoking households, may help to reduce secondhand smoke.  Secondhand smoke is bad for everyone, but it is especially bad for children.  Of course, you will want to try and not smoke around your children, but if you do, you will want to purchase an air purifier, if not for your own benefit then for the sake of your children.

As mentioned above, those operating a business centered on pets or kids could benefit from the use of an air purifier; however, they are not the only types of businesses who could benefit. If you are business owner, whether you run a small retail store or an office, you may want to think about getting an air purifier.  As mentioned above, air purifiers help to keep the air clean. In reality, this means that your employees will be healthier. In addition to better performance, you may also find that an air purifier helps to reduce the illnesses being spread throughout your building.  In turn, this may not only result in better performing employees, but employees who end up requesting less sick time. 

If the above mentioned examples describe you, in any way, you are advised to purchase an air purifier.  Whether that air purifier is for your home or your business, you will reap an unlimited number of benefits to owning and using one.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Fight Your Allergies with a HEPA Air Purifier

If you suffer from allergies, HEPA air purifiers are the ultimate in clean air for your home. Air purifiers were initially launched as tools to get rid of unpleasant odors in the home. But today, some of the other benefits you get from a HEPA air purifier include air sanitization and a reduction in bacterial or viral contamination. They remove pollutants and allergens from the air and let you breathe more easily. Plus, HEPA air purifiers are safe for your children, your home, and the environment.

The Beginnings of the HEPA Air Purifier

The basis for the HEPA air purifier goes back as far as 1940. It was first produced at the time of the Manhattan Project, during which radioactive contaminants entered the atmosphere. Since then, those air purifiers, which had no filter systems, were modernized with more functionality to meet the demands for improved air quality in our ever evolving society.

Nowadays, you can find air purifiers in a variety of institutions like medical centers and industrial plants. The air purifiers have been embraced by a vast array of manufacturing and service industries, including pharmaceutical, aerospace, nuclear, health care and electronics.

This highly functional tool claims a 99.99% reliability rating, and has shown itself over time to be a very effective tool. Today, if you judge by the huge number of favorable air purifier reviews, the HEPA air purifier is widely valued throughout the world.

How Does it Work?

There are three steps in the HEPA process: interception, impaction and diffusion. Since they consist of randomly ordered fibers, they are highly efficient when it comes to their ability to filter out undesirable particles. They grab pollutants and all types of other unsafe elements which can cause a variety of allergies, ailments and diseases.

The first step is the capture of a stream of air within one radius. The air is trapped by the filters and so the process begins. The next step is impaction, whereby large molecules are filtered by the tiny fibers within the air cleaner. The molecules continually decrease in size as the air travels through the fibers contained in the system. Finally, the process of diffusion takes place, caused by the air colliding with other gas particles.

A HEPA air purifier has many advantages, but the most valuable is the efficient way in which it clears the air around us of of allergens. You can't totally eliminate the contaminants in the air by using a HEPA air purifier, but you can definitely reduce them substantially.

How Do You Recognize Mild Child Allergy Symptoms

Recognizing child allergy symptoms can be a bit of a challenge, particularly for less severe reactions and seasonal allergies.  A range and variety of children's allergy symptoms, coupled with the normally frequent viral and bacterial infections and flu bugs that children are predisposed to contracting, often mean that allergies elude diagnosis for a long period of time.  For parents, learning how to recognize child allergy symptoms can be the means to relieving chronic discomfort and secondary infections; in the case of a severe allergic reaction, knowing the symptoms of child allergies can mean the difference between life and death.

Physicians categorize child allergy symptoms by type and severity, with severity being the most important factor of child allergy symptoms, since that is what determines the ability of the body to function normally.  As severity goes, mild to moderate child allergy symptoms pose the least threat to children.

Mild to moderate child allergy symptoms may occur infrequently or on a regular basis, depending on the type and cause of the allergic reaction.  Mild to moderate child allergy symptoms include

• Nose and sinus problems—including itchy nose, stuffy nose, or runny nose; sinuses may be sore, cause pressure in the face, or cause headaches; children are often unable to describe sinus discomfort
• Frequent sneezing
• Itchy and/or watery eyes
• Nasal and chest congestion
• Dark under-eye circles
• Mouth breathing
• Frequent rubbing or pushing upward on the nose—this often results in a tell-tale red line across the bottom of the bridge of the nose
• Chronic ear problems/infections
• Snoring/trouble sleeping
• Labored breathing or difficulty breathing, including wheezing and coughing and asthma-like symptoms (in fact, asthma attacks can be triggered by allergies in children with allergies)
• Hives
• Swelling, particularly of eyes, lips, and face; note also that swelling can become or present as a severe reaction, and for the sake of safety any swelling should be reported to a doctor for further instruction.  It is especially important to monitor breathing when swelling exists, as there may be swelling inside the throat and airways which can block breathing.
• Stomach upset
• Constipation

As a general rule-of-thumb, mild child allergy symptoms are localized and do not spread throughout the body; moderate child allergy symptoms will be increasingly uncomfortable and may spread to various parts of the body, but do not threaten essential life functions.

Mild child allergy symptoms may cause discomfort, but pose no real immediate danger. They are worth noting and discussing with a doctor during regular well-child check-ups.

Homeopathic Asthma Treatments: Some Basics That May Benefit You

If you don't control your asthma, then it will control you. If you are experiencing wheezing at night, coughing while sleeping or a sensation of in ability to breath, then your asthma is getting out of your control. A visit to your doctor is advisable and proper adherence to your doctor's advice will help keep it under your control.

An Asthma attack is the process whereby the respiratory disorder is manifested in the patient. Usually it means there has been a form of trigger. The attack usually lasts for just few minutes but in severe cases death may occur within those few moments.

Receiving medical attention for your asthma condition may be quite expensive. Some insurance companies may even refuse to insure you as they term your health as that with a pre-existing condition. There are a lot of health food stores that you can visit to go over your attacks and triggers. Such stores will provide you information on how to cure you asthma naturally.

If you think asthma is a death sentence, think again. Lots of people have survived it and you can survive it as well. There are world leaders, athletics, artists, actors and actresses who have had asthma, yet they survived it and became world acclaimed. You can too, if you give yourself a chance.

Although it is possible to live a normal life with the presence of chronic asthma disease, not taking appropriate medical treatment can be highly costly. The success of the doctor's care depends on the ability of the patient too in helping himself. You have to stick to your doctor's advice and report the progress of all the medications you have been supplied with, if you are serious about effectively treating asthma.

Since the effect of a particular type of food is unique to a particular person and the person's situation, knowing which food aggravates your asthma requires the use of some techniques.  A technique you can use is keeping a diary of the food you eat and a diary of your asthma attacks. Comparing these will show you how you react to the different kind of food you eat. Show this to your doctor and he/she will be in a better position to advice you.

Asthma, if not controlled, can control the lifestyle of the sufferer. There are a lot of proven ways to control the disease but choosing one depends greatly on you and your system. It does not matter which worked for Peter or Paul. What matters is that you are controlling it effectively with a treatment that suits your system. 

Asthma attack is generally triggered by allergens. These allergens are present in air in forms of dust, pollens or trapped air. Other triggers include concentrated smells, food with high fatty contents and dairy products.

Understanding the Symptoms of Food Allergies

Data provided by the Mayo Clinic, shows that approximately two percent of the adult population and around 6 percent of kids suffered some type of allergic reaction to food. When you consider that the combined adult and child population of the US is over 3 hundred million, these apparently small percentages correspond to about 6 million grownups and eighteen million children.

Like other common causes of allergic reactions, a food allergy occurs when the immune system overreacts to an allergen. Common food allergens include, but are not limited to, dairy products such as milk, seafood, shellfish, peanuts and eggs.

In response to contact or consumption, the body releases an antibody termed IgE (immunoglobulin E) because it sees the food not as nutrition, but a outside invader. The allergy symptoms are produced by the release of histamine, prostaglandins and several other substances which are stimulated by the antibodies.

When compared with other allergic reactions, food allergy symptoms are typically much more extensive. Congestion of the nasal passages and watery eyes are a possibility. However, they are usually accompanied with or overtaken by urticaria (itchy red welts that form on the skin), swelling up of the lips, tongue or pharynx, wheezing, nausea and pain in the abdomen.

In extreme cases anaphylactic shock can occur. This is a whole body or systemic allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. It involves several serious symptoms such as lightheadedness, constricted airways resulting in breathing problems and a dramatic decrease in blood pressure. It comes on quickly and if not treated immediately, can result in death. As many as two hundred deaths per year in America are as a result of anaphylaxis.

Allergic reactions to food are sometimes localized in some people. Fresh fruits and vegetables cause some to experience a kind of tingling feeling in the mouth. The reason is believed to be proteins similar to those found in ragweed pollen.

Professional diagnosis by an allergist is the only way to determine if a person suffers from food intolerance or a food allergy.

To  ascertain if a person has an allergy to particular foods, the allergist will carry out one or many skin prick tests. The doctor takes an extract of the suspect substance and exposes the patient to it by introducing a tiny amount below the skin with a lancet. The area of skin is then observed for approximately thirty minutes to discover if any itchiness or swelling occurs as a consequence of any response to the suspect substance.

In certain circumstances, a blood test may be warranted. This measures the quantity of IgE produced in response to consuming the suspicious food. But, this test it is not always definitive.

An example of where the symptoms are similar but not the same as an allergic reaction is lactose intolerance. This is caused by the genetic lack of a digestive enzyme that is needed by the body to process cows milk safely.

Eliminating the problematic food from the diet and environment is the optimum and best line of defense. For example, folks with an known allergy to eggs should simply not consume eggs or egg based products. Others that are sensitive to peanuts and peanut dust can by and large avoid coming into contact with it.

In the absence of any known cure for allergies, avoidance is the best medicine for the moment However, symptom relief is possible when accidents happen. Antihistamines are a good option as is an Epipen or similar device. The latter contains ephinephrine which can be injected by allergy sufferers in an emergency situation caused by coming into contact with certain allergens. A serious attack of anaphylaxis can be fended off until professional medical assistance can be given.

Solutions to Indoor Air Pollution

It may suprise you to know that air pollution levels inside the modern home can be two to five times higher than the levels outside. Combine that with the fact that the average person can spend up to ninety percent of their time indoors, is it any wonder that the term Sick Building Syndrome has become a new adage in the English language.

Unlike outdoor air, indoor air is recycled again and again with pollutants like tobacco smoke, pollen, mold, dust and pet dander all contributing towards asthma and allergic reactions.

Other symptoms of sick building syndrome include giddiness, head aches, tickly throats, sinus congestion, itchy or watery eyes, nausea, lethargy and an lack of concentration.  However, since several of these symptoms are similar to those of a common cold, it is not always easy to to ascertain if indoor pollution is the cause or if it is due to some form of viral infection.

If you discover that the symptoms fade when you are in the open air, try to identify inside air sources which might be possible causes and try to get rid of them. Fortunately, indoor air pollution is one health hazard that you can do something about.

Here are several easy steps you can take to better the air quality in your house.

No Smoking Inside

Ideally, you should ban smoking anywhere inside the home but if this is not possible, try to restrict it to one place. In our case, any friends or family that visit are limited to the kitchen area or the back garden if they want to smoke. In the kitchen, an extractor fan drives the smoky air outside as it does with cooking smells.

Ventilate Regularly

Weather permitting, you should open windows and doors in order to reduce the concentrations of indoor pollutants while permitting outside air to come in. If you have bathroom or kitchen extractor fans, make use of them on a regular basis. You should also routinely clean the vent-hole in the extractors and make sure they function correctly.

Use Natural House Cleaning Products

If you have ever taken the time to understand the labels on home cleaning products, the majority of them will include a warning about how bad the chemical substances are for your health or skin. As soon as you use that product, a lot of those chemicals go into the air, the fumes of which are inhaled. I have quite often started coughing after spraying counter tops with so called anti-bacterial cleaner. Not anymore though, as my natural housecleaning products of choice are bicarbonate of soda, washing soda, vinegar and pure lemon juice. These are all non toxic, environmentally friendly and can tackle the majority of cleaning jobs, either singly or combined with one another.

Keep you Home Clean and Dust Free

Although it may seem obvious to some folks, regularly hoovering your carpets and flooring can go a long way in controlling airborne allergens and dust. It is said (although I have no proof) that around seventy percent of all house dust is composed of dead skin, which we humans molt all the time. Dust mites successively feed upon this dead skin that falls from our bodies. They then grow and shed their own skin and it is this and their feces that causes allergic reactions in folks.

Pet Dander Allergic Reactions

For those folks with a cat, dog or other pet, allergic reactions like asthma attacks can be sparked off by their dander, which they molt all the time. Something needs to be done if you suspect that either you or another household member are allergic to pet dander. Ideally, it is best to keep pets out of the house altogether although that is seldom possible. As a possible alternative, try and restrict the rooms that the pet is allowed into. One definite area to keep them out of is the bedroom.

Reduce Indoor Air Humidity

If the clime where you live is either very humid or just plain wet (as in too much rainfall), you will no doubt be aware of just how much moisture levels inside your home can increase. A result of excessive moisture is the growth of mold and mildew. For anybody with extreme allergic reactions, mold spores are as bad, if not worse, than dust. For that reason, a home dehumidifier can be essential. An air purifier dehumidifier will draw dampness from the air and into a water tank which you can then remove and pour away.

Get an Indoor Air Purifier

Home air purifiers are units that clean indoor air of allergens, such as mold spores, pollen and pet dander.  They are especially useful if you or a family member suffers from allergic reactions or asthma since they can reduce airborne contaminants by a substantial amount.  Air purifiers and room air cleaners are rapidly increasing in popularity because they make indoor air healthier and cleaner. Even so, there are various types of air purifier, some of which can in reality make allergies worse rather than better.