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Most Common Allergy Triggers---5 Irritants And Suggestions For How To Handle Them

28 13:26:33
Airborne allergies can really disrupt your quality of life. Knowing what irritants can cause the disruption is more than half the problem solved. Here are the 5 most common airborne allergens known.

Dust Mites---Unfortunately, the droppings from these invisible bugs are one of the most potent allergens known. They make their home in places that are moist, dark, warm, and provide unlimited food source. This is the perfect description of your bed.

They feed on dander, or dead flakes of skin. And since humans constantly shed dead skin to make way for newer healthier skin, your bed and dust mites are a perfect match, at least as far as the bugs are concerned.

Their feces, which they are constantly excreting, contain a protein which can send those whose bodies are sensitive into overdrive. This can result in symptoms such as congestion, sneezing, watering eyes and an inability to sleep well. Studies show that the usual bed can contain billions, yes billions of these bugs.

Encasing your mattress and pillows with allergy covers makes it difficult for them to take up residence. Washing your linens once a week in water that is 140 degrees Fahrenheit or hotter will kill them.

Seasonal Pollen---Depending on where in the world you live, pollen can start as early as January and continue through late November. That's a long time to have to deal with allergies if they are triggered by tree, flower, grass, or weed pollen.

Minimizing air exchange between your indoor space and the outside is a proactive step that will help. Figuring out which type of pollen is the trigger and when its peak season happens is important information to have. And filtering indoor air continuously with the right air purifier will keep the spore count low enough to provide you with a safe place to go regardless of what's in the air outside.

Mold and Mildew Spores---The good news is that these spores are nature's way of returning organic material to their natural state. However, you may not be able to celebrate this as good news if you are sensitive to these spores. Since they cannot be avoided or totally eliminated, the best you can do is reduce the moisture in your home to minimize their presence.

Make sure the areas under your kitchen and bathroom sinks are dry. Check the basement to make sure it remains dry in all kind of weather. Be conscious of how much water you put in your house plants. Soil that is continually moist makes a great breeding ground for these spores.

Pet Dander---If you have a warm-blooded pet, you have dander. So that means (and these are not mentioned in order of importance) dogs, cats, birds, ferrets, and bunnies all contribute to this problem.

It is the protein in the dander that is such a potent irritant for those who suffer with allergies and asthma. Unfortunately, there is no way to be completely free of the dander but you can certainly minimize it.

To literally keep the dander down you can designate a pet-free space in your home. Bathe your pet to wash lose hair and dander away. Wash pet bedding and favorite toys frequently. And finally, be realistic about the number of pets you choose to live with you.

Gaseous Pollutants---These can come into your home in so many different ways. Smoke from the fireplace or wood stove, scents from household products, volatile organic chemicals that off-gas from new carpet, paint, varnish, or pressed wood can all create air that is trigger-filled.

You can cut down of these irritants by choosing products that are odor free, using paints that emit fewer VOC's, and by choosing furnishings that are more earth friendly and contain fewer chemicals.

Being aware of these common triggers that can disrupt your life will give you a better chance of staying on an even keel throughout the year. And that will yield a better, happier, healthier life for you and those you love.