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Over the past twenty years the number of people suffering from allergy symptoms has increased four fold with one in four people in the UK now affected by different types of allergies. One in five children has asthma and contrary to belief the household pet isn’t the main cause - 85% of children are allergic to the house dust mite - hardly surprising as we now spend 90% of our time indoors.
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Symptoms can vary from dry, itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, to dermatitis and hives depending upon the severity. So what can you do to make life more comfortable without having to resort to rehoming the family pet and living in a sterile bubble?
Firstly, determine the triggers for your allergy - usually not that difficult, as some sufferers only see symptoms at certain times of year such as Summer when the pollen count is high or when a new cat or puppy is introduced to the household.
There are five main triggers:
- Dust mites - Microscopic in size, dust mites are the home’s number one allergen
- Pet dander - It’s not their fur that causes allergic reactions, it’s their saliva deposited onto their hair when grooming and also their skin flakes.
- Pollen - The most widespread cause of allergy in the UK and causes hay fever.
- Micro organisms - Such as fungi which grows on house dust and is a source of food for dust mites.
- House mould - Spores released by the mould can cause allergic reactions.
Top Ten Allergy Busting Tips
1. Invest in an efficient vacuum cleaner with a good filtration system to reduce allergens in the home. Dyson vacuum cleaners - although pricey all have the British Allergy Foundation (BAF) seal of approval - and remove 99.9% of all dirt and dust particles, preventing dirt and allergens being released back into the room.
2. Use cotton bedding covers and linen that can be washed at a higher temperature of 60c to kill dust mites
3. Use a good vacuum such as a Dyson to hoover mattresses, curtains and carpets once a month
4. Wash pet bedding on a regular basis and make sure pet’s have their own sleeping place away from pet allergy sufferers
5. Air rugs, bedding and soft furnishings outside when possible - do not use tumble driers. Line dry clothes, towels and bedding so that allergens are carried away by air and not left to recirculate in the house.
6. Air your house regularly and try not to crank up the central heating too much in winter - mites and fungi thrive in warm damp conditions . Open windows whenever possible so that a good breeze flows through the house.
7. Have a non allergic member of the household groom pets regularly to remove loose hair and dander - ideally outdoors.
8. Deflea regularly so that any scratching your pet does is minimal.
9. Use Bio Life’s range of homecare products which is proven to neutralise the allergens in pet dander. Only 26% of the population are allergic to pets and of those allergic to pets only, anecdotal evidence shows that sufferers needed little or no medication after just three weeks of using the product. Not only does it neutralise pet dander but also pollen and dust mites. The range covers products for reducing air borne allergens, allergens in fabrics, bedding, soft furnishings and your daily wash.
10. Buy a dog! Prevention is better than cure. Research has shown that children who grow up with pets have a reduced risk of developing allergies as it trains the immune system to cope with possible allergens - similar to an innoculation.
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