Don’t Say Achoo! How to Prevent Fall Allergies

It’s a fairly common misconception that allergies are worst in spring. It’s true that people who are allergic to tree pollen suffer most in early spring, but for those who respond badly to indoor airborne substances, all year is “allergy season.” Here in the mid-Atlantic, we tend to close up our homes and remain indoors more when fall arrives, so sufferers can find themselves trapped in closed environments that wreak havoc with their allergies.

Indoor Allergens

Moderating exposure to the following four indoor allergens is important, particularly if your plan is to prevent fall allergies.

• Dust mites are microscopic insects that feed on flakes of human skin, which comprises much of the dust around our homes. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology asserts that they’re the most common allergy symptom trigger, and they thrive most places that aren’t arid or extremely cold.
• Mold thrives indoors in damp, dark environments, and gives off spores which must become airborne to spread. Many species prefer dark areas, and all need dampness and a food source (anything organic will do, including the wood that makes up cabinets under sinks and the timbers in basements). Breathing in spores aggravates allergies in susceptible individuals.
• Cockroaches leave allergens around our homes in their saliva, and in their feces. While more common further south in the States, they do well in cities almost everywhere. If you see one roach in your home, killing it is almost instinctual, but almost ineffective, too; where there’s one, there are usually multitudes.
• Cigarette smoke, even secondhand smoke, can make life miserable for allergy sufferers and asthmatics. It can further irritate already-inflamed bronchial passages, either causing or worsening attacks. It also increases the risk of asthma in otherwise healthy children. Allergy and asthma sufferers have a special need to minimize exposure to triggers, but healthy air is beneficial to all.

At Sobieski Services, Inc., our goal is to help our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey learn more about energy and home comfort issues – especially HVAC and plumbing issues – so that they can save money and live in healthier, more comfortable homes.

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