(RxWiki News) Suffering from indoor allergies now that winter is keeping you indoors? Use these tips to make staying inside a pleasant and sneeze-free experience.
It's not so easy dealing with allergies when facing them on both the outdoor and indoor fronts. With winter's bitter cold forcing more and more people inside, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology is offering tips on reducing the discomfort of indoor allergies.
More than half of all Americans suffer from allergies and an estimated 20 million Americans have asthma. Around half of all households in the United States contain six detectable allergens, and about 70% of people with asthma also have allergies.
A shocking survey in 2003 revealed that almost 25 percent of all homes had enough dust mites present in beds to trigger an asthma attack.
- Avoid using humidifiers and keep moisture and humidity low to keep dust mites in control.
- Make sure your furnace filter is up to date with an efficiency rating of 11 or 12.
- Keep pets out of bedrooms and use dust-mite proof covers on pillows and mattresses. Blinds on windows are easier to clean and thus less prone to accumulating dust like curtains.
- Wash bedding every two weeks and vacuum regularly.
- Avoid mold by using a fan or opening windows in the kitchen and bathroom.
- Chemical odors can trigger allergic reactions and asthma, so keep irritants in a shed instead of garages.
