Can You Allergy Proof Your Home?

"I've Tried Everything: Shots, Puffs, New Pillows and Filters, and My Allergies Still Make Me Miserable. What Can I do?"

by Murray Grossan, M.D.

If your allergy treatment plan isn't working, you have to first remember that details count. You probably haven't really done everything, and secondly, no amount of drug therapies are a replacement for helping the body fight an allergy on its own terms. So follow - really follow - all the steps below and it should make the difference.

"I have dust-proofed my home, stopped smoking, given up lipstick, got rid of the cat and dog. My medicine chest is full of Claritin, Allegra, Flonase and most other brands as well. I've been to doctors and done shots. Nothing works. It's spring and I'm miserable. How come nothing works for me? What can I do?" says Mrs ML of Houston, Tx.

INFO LINKS Pollen and Hayfever Solution Guide - a quick buyers guide of the best recommended products to solve airborne allergen problems Mold Solution Guide - a quick buyers guide of the best recommended products to prevent and control mold allergy problems Cat Allergy Solution Guide - a quick buyers guide of the best recommended products to prevent and control pet allergy problems Dust Mite Solution Guide - a quick buyers guide of the best recommended products to prevent and control dust mite allergies

The best drugs in the world will not help a down allergy sufferer who works plucking ducks. Drugs will only work if you remove the major sources of allergens from your environment and help your body to get over the related problems due to allergies. These include allergy exhaustion and the negative effects of anxiety due to your allergies.
When you think of an allergy, think of arithmetic. 2x as much pollen is a 2 and 4x as much pollen is a four. Perfume is a 2. Iced drinks is a 2. Dust is a two. When you get to a 10, you sneeze. Subtract the perfume and cigarettes and then maybe you won’t sneeze.

Step-by-step: The arithmetic.

If the outside pollen is high, remain indoors.

Plants tend to pollinate at 5am and 5pm during the day. Make sure to be inside with windows closed at these times in high allergy season. Drive with the windows closed and the air recirculated.

It is very difficult to get rid of cat dander, even a very long time after the cat is gone. If it is in your rug, nothing will work except thorough intense shampooing. It might be cheaper to remove the rug.

Use houseplants as natural air purifiers. Good plants include lady palm, areca palm, rubber plant, English Ivy, dracaena and Boston fern.

Use common sense for an allergy sufferer when eating. Spicy food adds to the allergy. Try eating only cooked and canned foods — nothing fresh and ESPECIALLY no salad dressings. Note: this is only during the allergy season and depends on the pollen count. If the pollen count is very low you might be OK with salsa, but not when the pollen count is high.

Dry or wet (mold-breeding) conditions are bad for allergy. Fix all leaks, especially where the garden sprinkler gets under the house. Keep the bedroom humidity at 45-50%. Consider a room dehumidifier to help do this for you.

Can’t sit on the couch all day. Dust accumulates here and when you sit down the dust flies in your nose.

DO NOT use an Ionizer - they tend to spread dust and allergens. Use a Hepa air filter - they decrease allergens and dust.

Exercise can help smooth out your autonomic system that controls allergy. Exercise regularly, but not during pollination times, and indoors during peak allergy season.

Flushing the nose with Breathe-ease solution removes the pollen as well as the IgE which causes the allergy. Article in the Journal of Allergy and Immunology shows that Hydro Pulse Irrigation {see www.hydromedonline.com) is an effective way to remove nasal pollen, nasal IgE and it even lowers the blood level of IgE, thereby reducing allergy symptoms.

Published studies claim that one cortisone spray works as well as another and recommend using the least expensive one. The authors feel it is pointless – and expensive - to keep trying various brands trying to find one that works. Better to spend that money on Hepa air purifiers. Other authors claim that the sprays without benzalkonium are best.

Cortisone spray or allergy pill? In practice, we see just as many persons who do well on pills as on cortisone sprays. If a simple pill works for you, without side effects, OK. Most patients try both and decide which they prefer. One attractive feature of the cortisone spry is that it only goes to your nose and not to your toes.

Hot drinks, especially regular or green tea are desirable. Cold drinks slow your cilia and stop the body from getting rid of allergens. No 24 oz mega-gulps with ice during allergy season!

If your allergy is severe you must conserve your energy so your body can rest - take it easy during miserable attacks.

If your not sleeping, that’s bad. Does Benadryl 50 mg work for you for sleep? If not, your doctor may have to prescribe a sleep medication.

Is anxiety making you worse? Anxiety can re-enforce your symptoms. Relaxation can help your symptoms. Try Guided Visualization for Allergy.

Guided visualization is visualizing when you didn’t have the allergy. Use ALL senses:

• Sight
• Sound
• Touch
• Smell
• Taste

You can visualize going to the prom — when you didn’t have allergy. What you wore, what music you heard, what you ate — how it tasted, what the flowers and perfume smelled like, and how the shoe and clothes felt. Or think of a trip to the forest or beach where you felt fine. This can favorably alter the body chemistry.

When all the above fails, it denotes a stage of "allergy exhaustion" and bed rest may be the best answer. In the exhaustion stage, prednisone may also be helpful, but try everything else before heading back to the doctor.

In my experience you think you've tried everything, but most patients who really carefully go through all the steps above find a lot of relief.

Thanks to Susan Rudy, Nuances of Nasal and Sinus Self- Help for the info on the flowers and plants.

Disclaimer:

Please note that all advice here is general: all patients in a doctor's care must consult their doctor regarding the use of our products. The use of these products is NOT a substitute for seeing your doctor for any potentially serious medical condition.

For information about Grossan products, visit
www.hydromedonline.com

First Published: May 2004
Updated: February 2007

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