Allergies

An allergy is a condition in which the immune system reacts abnormally to a foreign substance that are normally harmless to most people. These substances can include dust mites, pets, pollen, insects, ticks, moulds, foods and some medicines.

For this article I have decided to set aside the subject of food and medicine allergies however these two types of allergies should be kept in mind when considering your response to allergy symptoms.

The Most Common Types of Allergic Conditions in the household are:

Allergic Asthma
This is a type of asthma triggered by exposure to the same substances that trigger allergy symptoms.

Seasonal Allergies
This is a type of allergic response causing itchy, watery eyes, sneezing and other similar symptoms.

Animal Allergies
This is a type of abnormal immune reaction to proteins in an animal's skin cells, saliva or urine.

Anaphylaxis
This is a type of severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction to a substance, often peanuts.

Insect Stings or Bites
This is a type of  abnormal response to a sting or bite from and insect , spider or reptile.

Allergy to Mold
This is a type of abnormal allergic reaction to mould spores.

When a person is atopically genetically suseptable to allergens they can develop an immune reaction that leads to allergic inflammation (redness or swelling).

Allergic inflamatory symptoms can include nose and/or eye irritations like hay fever allergic rhinitis or conjunctivitis; skin irritations such as eczema, hives or urticaria and lung issues like asthma.

A substance that is an allergen for one person may not be for another and there is more likelihood of developing allergies if other family members also suffer from allergies or asthma.

Lets face it! Prevention is always better than cure! So lets put the subject of medications such as antihistamines, nasal sprays, eye drops and adrenaline (anaphylaxis) aside and focus on that!

Allergen avoidance or minimisation relies on identifying the cause of your allergy and then taking steps to reduce your exposure to those allergens.

Household allergens can be reduced by taking a serious look at your cleaning habits. This includes a return to some old fashioned cleaning values includes a spring clean every year and cleaning of all surfaces regularly to remove dust and getting into nooks and crannies to remove dirt, dust and grime.

The use of air filtering, air movement and air ventilation will assist in removing allergens and irritants from the indoor air.  Reducing chemical irritants will assist the allergy suffer by reducing nasal and eye irritation.

Even seasonal irritations can be reduced by removing and reducing exposure to mold, insects, pollens, animal dander and smoke. Remove mold, deter insects, remove pollen laden plants from the garden, wash the pets regularly,smoke outside and heat with clean fuels instead of wood.

Using a steam cleaner to kill dust mites works well and is a great alternative to chemical irritants.

In the coming months I wil begin to publish some more in depth cleaning schedules and tips about chemcial free cleaning or reduced chemical cleaning. Plus alternatives to traditional cleaning methods which might be of interest to the allergy sufferer.

Conclusion

To avoid allergy flare ups make sure you avoid the allergen. This involves a serious look at your cleaning schedule and the types of chemicals you expose yourself too. Think about removing dust first, doing a steam clean of all surfaces  and then using an air filter or standing fan for winter as a good start. Then move on to more demanding clean up jobs in spring when you can bring out the big guns and really clean up.