Air Purifiers are recognized by the EPA as one of the BEST tools for improving health!
Compared with other diseases, allergies and asthma do not often pose life-threatening health risks. On the down side however, bouts of sneezing, itching, wheezing, runny nose, and so on can make life miserable for the allergy sufferer. Many allergy and asthma victims have a good reason to complain of a poorer quality of life as their main goal is often the search for allergy relief. There is no question advances in medical treatment have helped to provide relief of allergy symptoms to millions of sufferers. However for some, allergies continue to pose a problem. Medical professionals agree that the three primary treatments of allergies include Medication, Allergy Shots, and Environmental Control. While a doctor may provide the first two, the last (and possibly most important) must be accomplished in your household. While you cannot do much about your outside environment, you CAN do a great deal within your home.
Air Purifiers are recognized as one of the best tools for improving health by the Environmental Protection Agency, the American Medical Association, the American Lung Association and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Air Purifiers have been known to improve the quality of air in the home, reduce dust, and relieve symptoms of allergies. Consider an EMF Air Purifier for maximum filtration and organism killing benefits. Below are some additional tips to keeping your home environment as allergy-free as possible.
The Bedroom
You spend close to a third of your life in your bedroom. It follows then, that a third of the air you breath throughout your life comes from within your bedroom. If you can clear allergens and irritants from this area your respiratory system (nose, throat, airways, lungs) can build up strength and resistance to the barrage of allergens and irritants in areas that are harder to control.
Here are some guidelines to follow: Floors should be wood or linoleum. Do not allow pets in the bedroom. Keep closets neat and do not store blankets, woolens, sports equipment, etc. in the closet. Use synthetic pillows and blankets. Wash sheets, pillows, and blankets on a regular basis. Vacuum your mattresses frequently and encase them in allergy-proof covers with zippers. Replace your mattress every 10 years. Do not use venetian blinds or long drapes – curtains should be smooth and washable. If you have vents in the room cover them with cheese cloth or another appropriate material.
House Dust
Dust is the leading cause of allergies in the house.
House dust is a complex mixture of many kinds of airborne particles: Carpet fibers, food remnants, mold, fungi, animal dander, insect parts, furniture debris, skin cells, and outside dust – You only have to look at a ray of sunlight streaming into a dimly lit room to see this “allergy airborne division” floating and swirling in air. The nature of house dust varies from home to home, but identifying the sources can help you to eliminate a lot of the dust that may be in your home. Sources of dangerous dust include: brushes and brooms, vacuum cleaners, books, clutter, carpeting, draperies, furniture, closets, the attic, the basement and insect infestations.
Consider these guidlines to follow: Centralized vacuum cleaning system or HEPA vacuum. Quality furnace filter. Enhanced Media Filtration Air Purifier. Periodic cleaning and maintenance of furnace and filter.
Dust Mites
These little guys are everywhere and reek havoc on your allergies!
A major component of house dust is a minute creature called the house dust mite. Although technically it is part of house dust, many physicians test for it separately. This allergen requires a separate section regarding measures for its control for several reasons: 1) It is a highly allergenic component of house dust. 2) It is a common aggravator of asthma attacks. 3) Specific measures can dramatically reduce its numbers.
Consider these measures to help reduce the number of dust mites in your home. Encase mattresses and box springs in allergy-barrier zippered covers, and wipe the covers frequently. Vacuum mattress covers, carpets, and upholstered furniture frequently. Use a dehumidifier to reduce the relative humidity to less than 50%. Keep the house cooler, especially the bedrooms. Shower and shampoo before bedtime. Install a central vacuum system or purchase a HEPA vacuum cleaner to prevent recirculation of dust mites.
Molds
Magnified mold spores found in your air.
Molds exist both inside and outside the home and give off spores that become airborne. When these spores are inhaled by a sensitive person, they produce allergy symptoms. Inside the home molds are found in unfinished basements, bathrooms, dried flowers and potted plants, camping equipment, leather goods and stored foods. Molds also thrive in air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and furnace filters that are not cleaned regularly. In essence molds inhabit damp, dark, poorly ventilated areas.
If you are diagnosed with sensitivity to molds, consider the following measures: Reduce excessive humidity in the home with a dehumidifier. Cut down on house hold dust. Wash surface areas such as window ledges and shower stalls with lysol or bleach at least once every two months. Use mold-resistant paint for the walls of unfinished basements. Keep potted plants to a minimum or use soil additives to inhibit the growth of molds. Frequently clean furnace filters, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, humidifiers, and vaporizers to prevent the accumulation of mold. Reduce wallpaper in bathrooms and kitchens. Dry laundry immediately after wash. Use an electric fan to enhance the circulation of air.
Animals
If getting rid of our pets is not an option there is still hope.
Although we tend to think of long-haired cats and dogs as the type of pets most likely to cause allergy symptoms, there is no such thing as a “non-allergenic” animal. Animal dander, not hair specifically, causes the problems. Dander is a mix of particles of skin, fur, or hair that is shed or secreted and that becomes airborne. To eliminate these allergies completely it may be necessary to remove the pet from your home. Although since animal dander lingers in carpets, house dust, and air ducts, it may take three to six months for the allergens to completely disappear.
If giving away the animal is not an option however, these measures may help alleviate some of the problems: Do not allow the pet in your bedroom. Keep the animal outside as much as possible. Have someone that is not allergic to the pet bathe the animal. consider chemical treatments and shampoos that can render the dander less allergenic – Allerpet is a well proven brand name. If you are going to visit someone who has an animal, take antihistamines and asthma medication with you.
Some Other Appliances That May Help
Central Vacuum Systems – The major problem with vacuum cleaners is that, although they pick up dust and larger particles, they blow out more house dust and can often times lead to a worse environment for the allergy sufferer! The use of a central vacuum, with an outside vent, ensures that no dust is recirculated. Easy Flo, Beam, Vacuflo, Soluvac, and Allegro are all good brand names.
HEPA Vacuum Cleaners – Installing a central vacuum system can be a pain. A good alternative is a HEPA vacuum cleaner. Quality HEPA vacuums have been developed to trap all the dust through an advanced filtration system and tight seals. There are canister and upright versions. However be especially careful when choosing a HEPA vacuum – you will certainly get what you pay for. Be sure to choose a quality brand such as Miele, Nilfisk, Airstorm or Oreck.
Furnace Filters – These work similarly tot he way electrostatic charges pick up small pieces of paper. These filters are made of a material that is poitively and negatively charged. When air is forced through this material, pollen and dust are “zapped” out of the air. These filters are very efficient, require little maintanence (washed every two months), are easy to install, and remain effective for a long time.
Dehumidifiers – These appliances can be the key to eliminating the mold and dust mite problems in your home. Mites and mold proliferate in relative humidity of over 50%. A defumidifier draws indoor air over cooling coils which condenses creating water droplets. Thes droplets drain into a bucket or floor drain and essentialy take the moisture from the air. Better brands have humidistats so that you can set the optimum level of humidity – you have to choose the right capacity for your needs.
