Types of Allergies

Dust Allergies - simple steps to relieving symptoms.
Mold Allergies - a little prevention goes a long way.

Dust Allergies
Simple steps to relieving symptoms.

Control your dust allergy by controlling exposure.

When you have an allergy, the tiniest things can be quite irritating.  Take dust for example.  Dust can lurk everywhere in your home - on linens, mattresses, carpets, curtains, in closets - ready to make your life miserable.

The Dust Mire.

Believe it or not, your dust is more than just dust.  This microscopic mite thrives in dust, especially in warm, humid environments.  If you have a dust allergy, your main mission is to eliminate this little pest.

Begin in the bedroom.

The key to reducing symptoms is the careful cleaning of all rooms where you spend most of your time.  Since we all spend about a third of our lives in the bedroom, that's the place to start.  Here are some simple steps you should take:

	Since mites can grow abundantly in the dust in your bed, the single most important thing you can do is to enclose mattresses, boxsprings and pillows in vinyl or synthetic coverings.
	Change bed linens every week and pillow cases every day.
	Use washable blankets and bedspread.  Wash bedding in hot water to kill the dust mite.

Other ways to fight the Mite.

	Eliminate upholstered furniture, carpeting, wall hangings, drapes, and other dust collectors from the room.
	Don't let itmes you rarely use gather dust in the closet.   Don't store items under the bed either.
	Dust collects in the nooks and crannies of textured wall and floor coverings.  So, if possible, use hardwood, vinyl or tile floors, and painted, paneled, or wallpapered walls.
	Wet mop and vacumn frequently.
	No stuffed toys.  Toys shouldbe made of plastic, wood or metal.
	Use air filtration devices to purify the air.
	Maintain clean, adequate air filters for home heating and air conditioning systems to avoid spreading allergens throughout the house.
	Since the mite loves humidity, keep it as low as possible - 35% to 50% to retard its proliferation.
	There are chemical agents for testing dust mites.  Ask your doctor for details.

We're here to help.

If you believe you have a dust or other allergy, this office can help.  We can perform a number of simple, painless and quick tests to determine exactly what may be causing the allergic reaction.  We can also provide an effective treatment plan and helpful hints to make living with allergy a lot easier.  Ask us for more information today.

Mold Allergies
A little prevention goes a long way.

Make life tough for molds. Make life easier for you.

Having any kind of allergy is nothing to sneeze at.  A mold allergy is especially bothersome because molds can grow invisibly anywhere in the house where it's cool and damp.

But there are some things you can do.  By controlling the environment in your home, you can significantly reduce your allergic symptoms caused by mold.  Here are some easy steps to take:

Reduce humidity.

Excess humidity (over 60%) can accelerate mold growth.  So the easiest way to reduce mold growth is to lower humidity.  Here are some ways to accomplish this.

	Dehumidify and heat your basement.
	Keep a light burning in damp closets.
	Ventilate crawl spaces.
	Vent clothes dryer to the outside.
	Reduce the number of house plants and terrariums.

Wage war on mold.

You'd be surprised where molds can grow.  But you can help stamp them out by taking the following steps:

	Remove from the home all items that tend to grow mold such as old musty books, plants, mildeweed carpets, etc.
	Paint damp areas with mold-inhibiting paint.
	Don't let damp clothes sit in the washing machine.  Dry immediately.
	Clean dehumidifiers, humidifiers and air conditioners regularly to rpevent mold growth.
	Encase mattresses, box springs, pillow cases in dust proof covers.
	Dry bathroom walls after shower.  Use bleach or Lysol to clean areas where mildew thrives such as tile grout, shower curtains, toilet tank and window sills.
	Install a bathroom fan and vent to the outside.

Avoid contact with mold.

If you're sensitive to mold try to avoid the following:

	Cutting damp grass.
	Raking damp leaves and debris which can stir up mold growth.
	Sleeping in basement bedrooms.

We're here to help.

If you believe you have a mold or other allergy, this office can help.  We can perform a number of simple, painless and quick tests to determine exactly what may be causing the allergic reaction.  We can also provide an effective treatment plan and helpful hints to make living with allergy a lot easier.  Ask us for more information today.