Allergy Treatment Begins at Home
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Air Pollution and Allergies: A Connection?
Medical Author:
Alan Szeftel, MD, FCCP
Medical Editor: William
C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
 Does the "air we breathe" have an impact on the
rising incidence of
allergies and asthma? Hay fever was
rare in Japan before World War II. However, pollen allergy is now common and mostly affects those living in
Japanese cities and near highways. Allergic disease is also more common in highly developed
countries in North America and Europe and less common in Third World countries.
This suggests that there must be something about modern, urban life that
promotes allergy. Let us examine the impact of air pollution.
By far the most important indoor pollutant is tobacco smoke, which is
strongly associated with allergic sensitization, asthma, and other
respiratory
illnesses. Exposure to smoke results in the body's enhanced ability to produce
IgE (the allergy antibody) that attaches to allergens (e.g. pollen, dust mites
and dander). The IgE response is a key trigger of allergic reactions. Parental
smoking increases the risk of their children having many respiratory illnesses,
including bronchitis,
chronic cough, and asthma. Smoking during pregnancy and
breastfeeding results in a higher
risk for the children to develop allergic eczema (atopic
dermatitis).
Top Searched Allergy Terms:
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Introduction
Avoidance is always the best treatment for
allergies regardless of which allergens are the triggers.
Interestingly enough, the most effective, least expensive,
and simplest options are not always followed. Many people
choose medications or vaccinations instead, despite their
drawbacks. Fortunately, there are lots of simple methods,
both old and new, to help with avoidance. Remember, putting
into practice any of these measures can only be helpful in
managing your allergies.
The good news is that you really don't have to strip
your house down to the bare bones to make it allergy proof.
Thorough and regular cleaning generally makes a huge
difference in keeping your house as mold and dust free as
possible. Patients with asthma or allergic rhinitis that
are due to dust mites, molds, or other indoor allergens can
feel better by taking these simple measures:
- Keep the home cool (between 68 and 72 degrees F);
- Maintain a low humidity (between 40 and 50%); and
- Make certain there is good ventilation.
When patients get started with the process of "allergy-
proofing" their homes, one of two things usually happens.
They either do nothing or "overdo it." Some patients become
so overwhelmed with all the different methods of allergy-
proofing that they simply do nothing. That's always a
disappointing outcome, especially when the process is so
straightforward and inexpensive. Just focusing on the
basics of a routine and thorough cleaning and temperature
and humidity reduction can lead to fewer symptoms and a
vastly improved quality of life.
Sometimes, the opposite occurs. The allergy-proofing
process becomes all consuming and inordinately expensive.
Overpriced and often inefficient whole-house filtration
devices are installed when simple cleaning and reduction
of humidity and temperature would have been adequate.
Clearly, there are situations in which extreme measures
need to be undertaken. Before going down this path,
however, it's best to consult with your doctor. Start with
the easy things first.
The next section will describe the best steps to take
in allergy-proofing your home. Always take a calculated
approach, stepping up the process as needed for certain
problems. First, we will focus on the best
ways to clean and in the second part, on the available
technologies.
Next: Cleaning and more cleaning: what really helps? »
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