Reduce Allergies and Asthma with Home Improvements

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American Clay Earth Plaster, a natural clay wall finish, produces negative ions that shed dust, pollen and pet hair to the floor, where it can easily be swept or mopped up. Photo by Peter Christiansen Valli. One in four Americans suffer from allergies or asthma, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI). A large number of them live and thrive within the walls of your home. Topping the list are dust mites, mold, pet dander and droppings from cockroaches and mice. Many allergens, such as pollen, are outside the home and float inside through window screens and cracks in the walls. The impact on allergy and asthma sufferers can be significant. The AAAAI reports that asthma alone causes 5,000 emergency room visits every day in the U.S; allergies and asthma together account for tens of millions of missed days of work and school. Fortunately, there are solutions to reduce the impact of allergies and asthma in homes. These can be broken into four main categories: ridding the places where allergens can be found, sealing the house against outdoor allergens, controlling the growth of mold and filtering the air inside the house. Eliminating Places Where Allergens Live Getting rid of carpet is one of the most cost-effective and easiest ways to control allergies. That’s because mold spores and dust mites—which are a natural part of the environment—live by the millions in carpet, as well as in bedding, drapes, upholstered furniture or anything else that’s “nice, warm and fuzzy,” says Frank Hammes, president of California-based IQAir North America, a manufacturer of air filtration systems. Replace your carpet with hard-surface flooring, such as wood or wood laminate, tile, vinyl, linoleum or even concrete. Luckily, houses without carpet are considered upscale these days so not only will your house be healthier for your allergies, it will also be stylish. Sealing Up the House Better Living Now, a medical supply company in Hauppauge, N.Y., that works with insurers to help patients with asthma control their symptoms, visits homes to find problem areas that will trigger symptoms. Among the most powerful tools in their fight against allergens are caulk, weatherstripping and screening. “We stress simple things,” Rynecki says. “They’re very inexpensive materials.” Caulk is used to seal small cracks and holes in the walls and floors, weatherstripping seals spaces around doors and windows, and screening covers kitchen, laundry room and bathroom vents that go to the outside. These solutions aim to help keep mice and cockroaches—“a big problem for people with allergies and asthma”—out of the home, says Todd Rynecki, a pharmacist and vice president of sales for Better Living Now. Droppings from rodents and cockroaches become airborne easily and are powerful respiratory irritants.

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