Tips on creating an allergy-free home environment

Up to four out of five people with asthma also have allergies like hay fever – either at certain times of the year or all year round. Hay fever can cause upper and lower airway inflammation and result in itchy watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, cough, sinus pain and congestion, and frequent sore throats. 

Spring has sprung and pollen is in the air. If you experience hay fever symptoms, it’s important to keep your home healthy by cutting down on allergens. 

We’ve developed some handy spring-cleaning tips to help you prepare your home. Follow these tips so that your family can breathe easier this allergy season: 

• Wash sheets, pillowcases, and soft toys in the bedroom weekly in water hotter than 55°C 
• Cover mattresses, quilts, and pillows with dust mite-resistant encasings 
• Open curtains and air bedding in the sunshine and give them a regular clean 
• Consider Venetian blinds or flat blinds, which are easier to clean those heavy curtains. External shutters are another option 
• Use a damp or electrostatic cloth to dust hard surfaces (including floors) 
• Ask someone else to do the vacuuming, as this increases allergens in the air for up to 20 minutes. Also, consider using a vacuum cleaner with asthma and allergy-sensitive HEPA filter 
• Keep rooms dry and well-ventilated and consider using an air purifier. 
• Clear out the clutter 

Another way to manage hay fever and/or allergy symptoms is to use products that may reduce allergy triggers in day-to-day life. 

The National Asthma Council created Sensitive Choice® to help consumers identify asthma and allergy-aware products., and to create an allergy-free home environment. Products marked Sensitive Choice® have been assessed by an independent panel. So, next time you go shopping, look for the reassuring blue butterfly on product packaging, including bedding, cleaning products, vacuum cleaners, and more.” 

Sensitive Choice® has helped the public to reduce their allergy reactions for many years. Its partners provide funds for research and education led by the National Asthma Council to reduce the health, social and economic impacts of asthma and allergies around the world. 

Remember, an itchy, runny, or blocked nose due to allergies can make your asthma harder to control. If that sounds like you, make sure you talk to your doctor or pharmacist. 

Source: https://www.sensitivechoice.com/