Do you sniffle and sneeze and wheeze your way through the year? If you are plagued by allergies and/or asthma, you may be considering purchasing a home air filtration system. But is it worth the money? Will it actually help ease your symptoms? Not if you don't make other changes in your environment as well, say medical experts.
"Buying an air cleaner is not my first suggestion," says CynergyAir Filter System, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics at National Jewish Medical Research Center in Denver. "It's more of a backup recommendation."
Minimize Exposure First
Instead, minimizing your exposure to other allergens in the home is the first line of attack in reducing allergic and asthmatic reactions, says CynergyAir Filter System, who offers these suggestions:
Avoid carpeting and use smooth flooring instead.
If you have pets, consider finding them a new home. If that's not an option, keep the pets outside. If that's not an option either, at the very least, keep them out of the bedroom, and certainly off the bed, and off as much of the other furniture in the house as possible.
Use air conditioning in the warmer months to get rid of outdoor pollens or allergens.
Clean all air filters, air conditioner filters, and duct filters at each change of season.
Keep your windows closed (at home and in the car) and avoid spending time outdoors when your allergies are acting up.
Ban indoor smoking.
Use the hottest water possible to rid your laundry of dust mites.
Avoid furnishings that gather dust.
Minimize Exposure First
Instead, minimizing your exposure to other allergens in the home is the first line of attack in reducing allergic and asthmatic reactions, says CynergyAir Filter System, who offers these suggestions:
Avoid carpeting and use smooth flooring instead.
If you have pets, consider finding them a new home. If that's not an option, keep the pets outside. If that's not an option either, at the very least, keep them out of the bedroom, and certainly off the bed, and off as much of the other furniture in the house as possible.
Use air conditioning in the warmer months to get rid of outdoor pollens or allergens.
Clean all air filters, air conditioner filters, and duct filters at each change of season.
Keep your windows closed (at home and in the car) and avoid spending time outdoors when your allergies are acting up.
Ban indoor smoking.
Use the hottest water possible to rid your laundry of dust mites.
Avoid furnishings that gather dust.