Allergens are quite literally some of themost irritating[ET1] things in existence. We’re notexaggerating either – they’re known for causing an array of unwanted (andunpleasant) health issues, from aggravated asthma to relentless sneezing. Sure,if you’re someone who tentatively ventures out of the house come ‘allergyseason,’ you’ll be all too familiar with the symptoms spring can bring.However, you don’t need warmer weather to send your allergies into overdrive –you’re probably exposing yourself to a number of allergens every day, and noteven realising it.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of commonallergens for you to avoid – especially if you have asthma. The body’s reactionto allergens often worsens asthma symptoms, so remember to bear them in mindwherever you are.
Pollen
If you thought pollen fell into one category, thinkagain. Scattered by the wind as opposed to being carried by insects, grasspollen is difficult to avoid and easy to become exposed to - making it the mostcommon allergen behind respiratory symptoms. Next up? Tree pollen. About 20% ofpeople with hay fever are allergic to birch tree pollen. Flowering trees areusually less likely to cause allergies because insects transport their pollengrains, not the wind. Then there’s ragweed - the biggest troublemaker when itcomes to weeds. A single plant can produce one million grains of pollen everyday. Check the Sensio AIR app regularly to stay informed of the wpollen countin your area, and keep your windows closed on high-pollen days to avoidunwanted particles making themselves at home.
Mold
Mold thrives in warm, damp environments like bathroomsand basements, so if you’ve noticed allergy-like symptoms at different times ofyear, this could be one to be wary of. Mold spores are so tiny that they caneasily be inhaled and become trapped inside your nose – this can cause symptomssimilar to those of hay fever. Should they become settled in the lungs, you’lllikely notice an asthma-like reaction. If you think you have a mold allergy,you can take some very simple steps to reduce your exposure to it. Reduce thehumidity level in your home, watch out for damp areas and use a HEPA [ET2] filter. A HEPA (or high efficiencyparticulate air) filter removes at least 99.97% of particles that are 0.3µm orgreater in size, and can be extremely beneficial when built into air purifiersand vacuum cleaners.
Pet dander
If your home is pet-free, you might assume that thisone doesn’t apply to you. Unfortunately, it does. While you might not have acuddly companion, people who visit your home might – and that’s enough fordander to settle in your house. Similar to dandruff, pet dander is made up ofparticles shed from the skin of animals with fur and feathers, and it’s good atgetting pretty much everywhere. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter when cleaningcarpets and upholstery and ask your guests to remove their shoes and jacketsbefore they get too comfortable.
Dust mites
There’s good news and bad news when it comes to dustmites. The good news? You can absolutely keep them at bay. The bad news? It’spretty much impossible to banish the tiny terrors completely. Sorry. Happiestin warm, humid places, dust mites usually inhabit bed sheets, pillows, curtainsand carpets. Too small to be seen by the naked eye, dust mites aren’t easy tomonitor. However, you can keep your home as mite-free as possible by opting forwood-flooring as opposed to carpets, washing your bedding in hot water weeklyand ensuring you vacuum (with a cleaner that has a HEPA filter installed)regularly.
[ET1]Literally ;)
[ET2]Maybe explain HEPA once?
[Image courtesy of Landon Arnold /Unsplash]
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