A hospitable home for allergy sufferers

The best way to help allergy and asthma sufferers is to rid your home of allergy and asthma triggers

Date published: 10/30/2009

FOR SOMEONE WITH allergies, there is noth- ing worse than walking into a home and knowing that in a few minutes you will be sneezing, wheezing, and rubbing your eyes in a desperate attempt to stop the itch. For millions of allergy sufferers, this is a common experience.

I've often thought that certain homes should post a warning: "We Love Pets," or "Mold Grows Here." Fortunately, there are steps anyone can take to make their home a safe and welcoming place for everyone--including those who suffer from allergies and asthma.

If it seems that almost everyone you know suffers from some kind of allergy or asthma, it's because over 60 million Americans, or one out of every four, suffers from these conditions. That number is on the rise.

An allergy is a disease of the immune system. It occurs when a substance causes an overreaction in a person's body, resulting in a broad range of symptoms. Asthma, on the other hand, is a disease of the lungs. During an asthma attack, airways become narrow or blocked, causing breathing difficulty, wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and other symptoms. Often, asthma episodes are triggered by an allergic reaction.

There are no cures for allergies or asthma. But they can be managed with prevention and treatment. One of the most important steps is to remove allergy and asthma triggers from the home. Common triggers are pollen, pet dander, dust mites, cigarette smoke, mold, roaches, and the use of certain cleaning and personal care products.

One of the best ways to remove allergy and asthma triggers is to keep a clean house. If possible, have someone without allergies or asthma do the cleaning. If that is not possible, the person who cleans should consider using a dust mask to prevent the inhalation of particles that are stirred into the air during cleaning. Remove household clutter that collects dust, and take out the trash regularly.

Carpet is a magnet for dust, hair and pet dander. Replacing your carpet flooring with wood, tile, or vinyl might help. If you love carpet too much to give it up, use a vacuum with a true High Efficiency Particle Air (HEPA) filter.

Kim Elkins is an agent in Virginia Cooperative Extension's Spotsylvania County office, specializing in family and consumer sciences. Phone 540/507-7568; e-mail KimElkins@vt.edu.

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Date published: 10/30/2009