The Secret to Living with Allergies Part 8: Top Allergy Relief Steps For Help with Pet Allergies
If you have pet allergies, you're not alone. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI), approximately 10 percent of Americans may be allergic to animals. Of these allergy sufferers, many may have asthma and 20 to 30 percent of asthma sufferers have pet allergies. These asthma sufferers include kids with childhood asthma. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) explains that allergic asthma (caused by allergens such as dust mites, cat and dog dander and other environmental allergens) is the most common form of asthma in children. What can you do if you, your child or someone in your family has pet allergies? This edition of the Allergy Control Products series on The Secret to Living with Allergies covers top allergy relief action steps for help with pet allergies.
Step 1: Understand where Pet Allergens are found and the Hurdles in Tackling Pet Allergies Pet allergen, the allergy-causing material from dogs and cats that triggers allergic reactions, is not actually the pet hair but instead a protein present in the animal dander (made up of flaky skin cells and dried saliva). Pet allergens are particularly small and sticky'. These allergens are found to the greatest extent in homes with pets, however, their sticky nature means that they often travel on clothes or in other ways to places where pets have never been allowed (such as offices, schools, and other public places).
Depending on individual factors including the severity of the pet allergy, you may face the very difficult decision of finding a new home for your pet. If this happens, removing pet dander will require thorough cleaning as pet dander is difficult to eliminate throughout the home, and it can take as long as 20 weeks for pet dander to no longer cause allergies. If you keep your pet, it is important to take the action steps outlined in Steps 2 - 9 to help reduce your exposure to pet allergens.
Step 2: Don't Allow the Pet in the Allergic Individual's Bedroom To reduce exposure to pet allergens, keep the pet out of the bedroom. This room is where we spend much of our day while sleeping and is where the greatest levels of allergens can be found. Hands and clothing should be washed after any contact with your pet.
Step 3: Cover Pillows, Mattresses and Box Spring with Allergy Encasings Protect yourself from pet allergens that have built up in the bed by covering pillow, mattress, box spring and even the comforter with allergy encasings. Choose an encasing with a small pore size (under 5-6 microns) that will effectively block the small pet dander particle and keep allergens contained within the bed.
Step 4: Wash Linens and Any Un-Encased Bedding Every Week in Hot Water Any linens, pillows, blankets or comforters that aren't encased should be washed weekly in hot water (130-degrees F) to remove allergens. If you have had to remove your pet, consider replacing bedding items with new purchases that are free from pet allergen build-up.
Step 5: Remove or Treat Carpets to Eliminate a Large Allergen Source Allergens fall into the weave of the carpet, accumulating to create a large allergen source. Remove the carpet to prevent continued exposure, or treat carpets to denature allergens and vacuum thoroughly.
Step 6: Clean Your Carpet with a HEPA Filtration Vacuum, Designed to Contain the Small Pet Dander Particle The tiny pet dander particle can pass through the standard bag of many vacuum cleaners and exhaust back into the air. HEPA vacuums, with high filtration bags and superior containment of allergen particles, should be used.
Step 7: Use HEPA Air Cleaners and Purifiers to Capture Airborne Allergens Although large dust and mold allergens can settle to the ground more quickly, small pet allergens remain airborne longer. HEPA air cleaners and air purifiers are particularly good for these allergens.
Step 8: Use Central Furnace Filters or Place Filter Media Over Vents in the Bedroom Filter air with a central furnace permanent or disposable air filter. Airborne allergen particles are captured by the air filter before circulating throughout the house. Cover vents in the allergic person's bedroom with filter media that further traps airborne particles before entering the room.
Step 9: Reduce Dander by Giving Your Pet Frequent Baths Although studies have demonstrated that washing pets with water removes some surface allergen, the effects are temporary and may not last long enough to reduce symptoms. Specially-formulated pet shampoos can be used to help remove dander.
For 25 years, Allergy Control Products has been recommended by thousands of physicians as the most trusted allergy company for revolutionary products. Whether you're looking for the highest quality air purifier http://www.allergycontrol.com/allergycontrolproducts/tabid/58/c-331-air-cleaners.aspx , air cleaner, air filters, hypoallergenic bedding or more, you can rely on the over 500 allergy products that have helped hundreds of thousands of allergy sufferers combat allergies and allergy relief.
|
 |
 |
 |
Cure Your Asthma in Just One Week
Breakthrough
Natural Asthma Treatment - A drug-free, medically proven, home treatment program designed by an ex-asthmatic who cured her own asthma.
Drug-Free Asthma & Allergy Cure
Natural Asthma Treatment Breakthrough Is 100% Safe, Effective, Proven & Guaranteed. With this allergy & asthma treatment information, neither you nor your loved ones ever have to suffer a potentially life-threatening allergy or asthma attack again.
Stop Asthma Now
Take Charge Of Your Asthma With Proven Steps And Resources. If you or someone you love suffers from asthma, here's the solution you've been looking for, especially if you've tried everything else and nothing's worked so far.
Asthma Free in 5 Days
Discover how to live, feel, breathe and sleep 150% better by breaking free from your suffocating asthma in only 5 days. Learn how to safely and naturally cure your asthma condition for life using no over-the-counter medications or prescriptions.
MORE ARTICLES:
Going on the Offensive with Asthma in Children
Any condition or disease that affects children seems a lot worse for us as parents. While we only want the best for our kids, were almost powerless to protect them when facing many health-related conditions like asthma. Once a condition such as asthma has been diagnosed however, we can do everything in our power to see to it that they get the proper care that can make all the difference in their quality of life.
Childhood Asthma
Considered to be the most common chronic disease in children, asthma affects over 4 million of children below 18 years old. If your child is among the many affected by this illness, then you must be well-informed and educated in order to manage asthma properly.
13 Effective Home Remedies for Asthma
Read this article to know the best Home Remedies for Asthma. First of all let me tell you what is Asthma?
If You Think Allergies Are Not a Big Deal, Think Again
There's always seemed to be a suspicion of a link between asthma and allergies. Asthma, is a chronic illness characterized by inflammation of respiratory tubes that result in wheezing, a choking sensation and shortness of breath. A better understanding of asthma will result in an appreciation of the importance to address allergies quickly. Simply stated, continued research is suggesting that allergies are a main cause of the development of asthma.
Is There a Link between Allergies and Asthma?
The short answer is absolutely YES, there is a link between having allergies and developing asthma. As you know, asthma is a chronic disease of the respiratory tract with symptoms like a choking sensation, tightness in your chest, shortness of breath and characterized by a wheezing sound. Simply stated, continued research now suggests that allergies are somehow related to the development of asthma.
Natural Asthma Treatments a Breath of Fresh Air
Any asthma sufferer knows how difficult it is to function sometimes, especially when asthma symptoms make even the simplest of chores and functions difficult. In addition to regular asthma medication, your doctor may also prescribe various vitamin and mineral supplements in conjunction with basic asthma treatment() procedures.
Asthma Attack Symptoms
During an asthma attack a series of things happen in your lungs and airways that all contribute to the symptoms of an asthma attack. The cells that line your airways create and excrete more mucus that they normally do. This creates an excess that clogs the airways and makes breathing more difficult. This mucus can also settle in the lungs creating breathing problems by filling the air pockets that would normally hold the air you breath.
Is It Asthma Symptoms Or Allergies?
Do you wheeze and gasp after physical activity? Do you feel like your chest is filled with mucus and have impaired breathing after you have been around pollen and a long haired cat? If you answered 'yes? to either of these questions then you may suffer from asthma, allergies, or both asthma and allergies. It is easy to confuse asthma and allergies because they have very similar symptoms. While there symptoms may be the same, the underlying causes of each condition are different and the treatment for each condition is very different. Therefore, it is critical to know how to identify the difference between allergies and asthma symptoms.
Important Asthma Information
If you or a loved one suffer from asthma, it is important to know about asthma control and ways to prevent the condition from affecting your health and well-being. Your doctor should be able to give you important asthma information during your visits, but you should also know a few things that will make asthma control easier for you on a day to day basis.
Overcome The Challenges Of Asthma
People with asthma often think that they are different from the other and cut off themselves from the normal fun and excitement of life. If you have asthma, look at it as just another challenge of life. Since it is not your fault that you have this disorder, you do not have to be embarrassed for being an asthma patient. There is no cure for Asthma but it can be controlled if addressed properly and an effective asthma management program can enhance a person's quality of life to a considerable extent. If adequately controlled, the children born with asthma can live a normal life and if controlled in adequate manner, it does not stop your child even pursuing his career in sports. An effective asthma management plan starts with understanding th ...
Asthma Awareness Month Ending but Important Message Remains
Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), a collaboration of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, and the World Health Organization, used this year's World Asthma Day to spread their important message: "You can control your asthma". Health care groups, asthma educators, and supportive companies around the world participated in a variety of ways during Asthma Awareness Month.
Alternative Treatment for Asthma
Asthma is a respiratory disorder characterized by abnormal lung condition in which accumulation of mucus in the lungs is found. Natural asthma remedies are the most preferred way of treating asthma since the conventional methods of treatment for asthma may have a lot of side effects.
Asthma Liberation By Way Of Hypnotherapy
Asthma is a chronic condition affecting the respiratory system. During the course of an asthma attack, bronchial tubes, which carry oxygen to and out of the lungs, tend to tighten and hence decrease the flow of air coming to the lungs. The airways also become inflamed and lined up with mucus. These symptoms might occur several times a day or week, or much less often. The gravity of the attacks also changes.
A Familiar Vitamin for Asthma Treatment
The word Asthma comes from the Greek meaning ?'to pant and really that is the singular most common asthma symptom and characterized the disease. During asthma attack the bronchial tubes and airways get swollen or even blocked completely, making it difficult for the sufferer to breathe. Compared to the Greek, the medical term for asthma is more of a mouthful: reversible obstructive airway disease; although this can be shortened to ROAD. The medical term is a little more revealing: asthma is reversible, meaning that asthma treatment is available. Treatment more often than not involves asthma medication that opens up the airways again and reduces the severity of the attack.
Asthma - Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
Asthma is quite a common problem that affects both young and old. It is caused by the inflammation of the airways which will restrict the flow of oxygen into the lungs thus causing an asthma attack. To date, there is no known cure for asthma but various drugs and medications have been developed to lower the chances of someone developing an asthma attack.
|