How to allergy-proof a home

It's bad enough when your allergies bother you during a visit to a friend's home or while taking part in outdoor activities. It's worse when they flare up in your own home.

But you don't have to sneeze and wheeze at home. There are steps you can take to reduce the amount of allergens, or airborne particles, in your home.

"Allergy-proofing your home is very important," says Sanjeev Jain, MD with Columbia Asthma and Allergy Clinic. "If you are allergic to something, you need to try to avoid what you are allergic to."

INDOOR ALLERGENS

Some people with outdoor allergies experience symptoms only during certain seasons of the year, when pollen from trees, grasses and weeds fills the air.

But many people with indoor allergies are plagued by stuffy or runny noses, itchy eyes, sneezing, and wheezing throughout the year.

Common indoor allergens include molds, dust mite and cockroach droppings, and animal dander from household pets. These allergens are often found in furniture, bedding, carpet and damp places in the home.

Before you begin to allergy-proof your home, you have to know which allergens trigger your symptoms. If you don't know for sure, ask your doctor to help you find out what you are allergic to.

HOW TO START

While it may seem overwhelming, allergy-proofing your home can be a manageable task.

Start with the bedroom, where you spend much of your time. Then move on to the kitchen, living room and other areas of your home.

Get other family members to help you with the necessary chores and cleaning. Within a few weeks, you will have reduced the allergen level in your home.

To successfully allergy-proof your home:

• Vacuum and use a HEPA vacuum cleaner if possible.
• Change your furnace filter once a month.
• Place pillows and mattresses in special allergy proof covers.
• Wash bedding in hot water at least every two weeks.
• Keep bathroom and kitchen surfaces dry. Fix leaky plumbing, and seal cracks where water can cause mold to build up.
• Make your bedroom a pet-free zone.
• Make sure gas appliances and fireplaces are properly vented.
• Do not allow smoking in your house.

You probably won't be able to tell by looking that you've reduced the allergens in your home.

"Most allergens are very tiny microscopic particles that can't even be seen by the human eye," Dr. Jain says.

But if you're successful, you should have fewer allergy attacks and feel better in your home.

If your allergies still flare up after allergy-proofing, you may want to talk to your doctor about medications and shots that can be used to treat your allergies