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For a person suffering from tree pollen allergies like me, spring is a torture. The flowering trees are my kryptonite and at the time of flowering, it gives the impression that the pollen feeds a permasneeze of six weeks without respite until the end of June. And since the fourth National Climate Assessment of 2018 suggests that increasing carbon dioxide means an earlier and longer pollen season and higher levels of allergens in the air, it could last even longer in the future. 'to come up.
I am far from alone in my sneezing. According to a survey conducted in 2017 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 19.9 million Americans said they had been diagnosed with hay fever in the past 12 months. According to the World Allergy Organization, 400 million people worldwide suffer from allergic rhinitis, which includes diseases caused by indoor and outdoor allergens.
What to do if you suffer? Immunotherapy – getting injections that can desensitize your immune system to an allergen – can help you over time, but if you're not ready for needle treatment, you can take some steps to minimize the effects of the allergens. allergens inside the house. We've talked to allergists to get their best tips to minimize the effects of the most common indoor and outdoor allergens at home, from pet dander to house dust mites.
Relax the atmosphere
For people with allergies external to ragweed or grass, the best solution is to stay indoors, especially in the morning when the number of pollen is highest. , and to seal the quality of the air. "Central air conditioning is better because it keeps windows closed. and this prevents some of the pollen from entering, "said Dr. Paul V. Williams, a clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington. "Watch for pollen counts and avoid outdoor activities when pollen counts are high."
Make sure the filter in your furnace or HVAC system is clean and replace it regularly, it can also help you. Wirecutter, the product recommendation site of the New York Times Company, recommends choosing filters with a MERV index between 8 and 13; These filters remove 90% or more of smaller particles such as pollen and smoke.
According to Dr. Purvi Parikh, allergist and immunologist and spokesperson for the Allergy and Asthma Network, an autonomous air purifier can help combat airborne allergens such as molds and dander. Mr. Williams also suggests using a HEPA filter (High Efficiency Particle Filter) in the bedroom. Wirecutter recommends an air purifier capable of circulating air at least four times per hour depending on the size of the room for which it was designed and which works quietly while you sleep.
In humid areas, a dehumidifier can help reduce humidity to below 50% – what Dr. Williams called a "second-line measure" against the type of moisture that molds and mites prefer (like showed a 2001 study). If you are concerned about the possibility of mold, Dr. Neil Gershman, allergist and immunologist and member of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunologythere, recommend using a mold inspector to take air samples from inside and outside your home.
If your plague is present all year long, indoor allergens – for example pet dander or dust mites – do the opposite and open your windows to circulate the air. 39 pure air.
The mattress protectors for your mattress and box spring, as well as the pillow protectors, are woven tight enough to prevent dust mites from getting into your bedding. (Wirecutter recommends Protect-A-Bed AllerZip Smooth Mattress Overlay.) Although a meta-analysis of 54 studies conducted in 2008 did not find evidence strong enough to recommend physical protection reducing asthma, allergists who we spoke to recommended their use.
Whether you have indoor allergies all year round or seasonal outdoor allergies, it's important to vacuum up regularly to pick up allergens heavy enough to fall to the ground. Remove the carpet and clutter to have fewer surfaces to vacuum. Weekly washing of clothes and bedding with hot water will help eliminate dander and kill mites. (Wirecutter has several recommendations for vacuum cleaners for different life situations.)
If you are allergic to outdoor pollen, rinse at the end of the day before going to bed. "We recommend showers at night before bedtime to remove pollen from their hair so they do not settle on the pillow and do not breathe all night," said Dr. Williams said.
Although the hygiene hypothesis assumes that our over-powered world is causing an increase in allergies, it's not a good excuse to stop cleaning the house. "It's only useful before you develop allergies. Once you have allergies, it's not a good idea, because if you do not keep your house clean, you'll have a lot of problems, "Dr. Parikh said.
If you have allergies to animals
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, a hypoallergenic cat or dog does not exist, and short-haired animals are not less likely to cause a reaction than long-haired animals. Dr. Gershman's first advice to a pet-allergic family is to remove the animal from the home, but many people do not. "People would rather get rid of their allergist than their animal," he said.
If you can not stand to live without your pet, the allergists we talked to suggested keeping it at least outside the room, washing it regularly and using an air purifier with HEPA filter or equivalent HVAC filter to remove airborne particles.
If you take over-the-counter medications and your allergies worsen or if you have breathing difficulties, Dr. Parikh recommends consulting a doctor. "People can get asthma because of allergies, which can be very dangerous if not treated," she said.
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A version of this article is available on Wirecutter.com.
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