Controlling Allergens In Your Home
By Charles Kassotis, Thu Dec 8th

Do your eyes water? Does your throat itch? Perhaps you get arunny nose during certain times of the year. These are some ofthe common signs of an allergic reaction. Others could includeitchy ears, a skin rash, swollen eyes, and a host of othersymptoms that suggest you may be allergic to something in yourenvironment. If these things persist or develop over time, seeyour doctor about medical testing to determine whether you havetrue allergies or perhaps more vague sensitivities to temporaryirritants, like smoke, household cleaning chemicals, or atticdust.

Experts claim that diagnoses have increasedsignificantly over the past few decades. Improved homeinsulation that keeps out bad weather but also seals in airbornecontaminants may be one of the reasons. Another might be due tothe fact that more children are receiving better and earlierhealth care, which reveals childhood allergies sooner thanbefore.

Whatever the reason, if you suspect a loved one has allergicreactions in response to any type of household allergen, askyour doctor to confirm the and then take steps tocontrol or eliminate it.

1. Many people have pet allergies, which typically is aresponse to a dog or cat's skin dander that dries and sloughsoff, much as human skin does, usually imperceptibly. Don't letyour pets sleep in your bedroom, which will provide at leasteight hours of separation daily from this allergen. Bathe andgroom your pets frequently, and vacuum two or three times aweek.

2. Dust mites and their excrement irritate some

people's skinand nasal passages. Encase your mattress and pillows withplastic covers to kill the tiny creatures that inhabit thoseareas. Or, if this is uncomfortable, wash pillows and bedding inhot water with detergent, which will help to reduce if noteliminate the mite population. At least weekly, vacuum carpets,fabric furniture, draperies, and other similar areas that housethe mites.

3. Food allergies are common, especially to products likenuts, eggs, shellfish, and chocolate. When you identify specificfood groups as the problem, find healthy substitutes and checkall processed foods before purchasing them to be sure they donot contain even miniscule amounts of the food group allergens.For example, someone who is allergic to nuts also may besensitive to foods cooked in peanut oil.

4. Those with seasonal allergies should stay indoors in theearly morning or on windy days and run the air conditioner toclean indoor air.

Keep antihistamines on hand, along with medication to manageserious reactions if someone is prone to these. Sensitizationinjections are available for certain types of allergies togradually increase a person's tolerance of those substances.However, this can take years, so be patient. Life-threateningreactions must be managed rapidly by injecting the person withepinephrine from a kit that he or she should carry everywhere.Seek emergency treatment if you or someone else develops a rapidor irregular heartbeat, feels faint, or experiences difficultyin breathing.

About the author:For more information on how to manage symptoms, visitThe Directory at http://www.allergydir.com