Amanda Henderson of Safe Children discusses indoor allergies in this guest blog post. Safe children provides resources to keep your children safe.
Kids are sensitive to their environment, the air inside your home included. Their little bodies pick up on impurities in the air, and this can trigger a host of health problems that are attributed to one thing: allergies.
Health Risks you can see
Even otherwise healthy children can present with unexplained symptoms. This may be more noticeable in the winter, when they are spending more time indoors. Indoor air pollution can cause mild issues, including throat and eye irritation, fatigue, and chronic sinus congestion. Over time, these seemingly unrelated problems can develop into nausea, dizziness, and shortness of breath. This infographic from FilterBuy.com shares insight into the health risks of indoor air pollution.
What causes indoor allergies?
Indoor air pollution isn’t caused by just one thing, but a combination of lifestyle byproducts. This includes common irritants such as dust, secondhand smoke, pet dander, and mold, as well as pollen, viruses, and other biological pollutants. These impurities are joined by more harmful particles in the air. Chlorine byproducts, insecticides, formaldehyde, VOCs, carbon monoxide, and radon are all present in the vast majority of homes.
Small changes, big benefits
There is no way to completely eliminate indoor air pollution – even the most technologically-advanced air purifier will leave some things behind. But there are actions you can take that will stop many at the source. These include:
Talk to your doctor about performing an allergy test to help narrow down what’s causing your child’s symptoms. This is a simple skin patch test that gives results almost immediately for many common allergens, although some can take days to weeks for a readable response.
You don’t have to let your home make your child sick. A few simple changes to your daily routine can have a positive and lasting impact on the health of your entire family.
- Control moisture. Moisture comes from leaky faucets, water-damaged walls, clogged gutters, wet carpeting, and poorly-sealed windows and doors.
- Use non-toxic cleaning products. Non-toxic cleaning products are just as effective as their toxin-containing cousins. You probably have many of the best cleaners in the pantry right now. Baking soda, vinegar, olive oil, and lemon juice may be all you need to keep a clean house. Greatist contributor Laura Newcomer explains how you can turn these ingredients, along with a few other non-toxic cleansers, into powerful cleaning solutions you can use throughout the house.
- Open the windows every day. The absolute best way to get rid of indoor air is to let the outdoor air in. Open your windows for 10 to 15 minutes most days, even if it’s cold. Make sure to open at least one window on each side of the house to get an adequate airflow. Merry Maids cautions, however, that you should leave them shut on high-pollen days.
- Test out your green thumb. Add a few VOC-filtering plants to your home’s design scheme. American Home Shield explains that aloe vera and the common spider plant are especially effective.
- Wash your bedding weekly. It may not be the quickest chore, but washing your bedding at least once each week can help eliminate settled dust, pollen, and dead skin on the sheets, the latter of which feeds dust mites. For the best results, use the hottest water possible. When it’s nice out, it also won’t hurt to let your mattress get some fresh air and sunshine.
- Change your flooring. If your children stay sick despite your best efforts to keep the house clean and the air clear, you may need to consider bigger changes. Carpeting is one of the worst possible flooring options for allergy sufferers. Choose instead tile, cork, laminate, or hardwood.
Talk to your doctor about performing an allergy test to help narrow down what’s causing your child’s symptoms. This is a simple skin patch test that gives results almost immediately for many common allergens, although some can take days to weeks for a readable response.
You don’t have to let your home make your child sick. A few simple changes to your daily routine can have a positive and lasting impact on the health of your entire family.
P.S. A variety of recent studies show a direct correlation between allergies and anxiety. Properly maintaining your HVAC system is one of the biggest ways that you can lessen allergens in your home, reducing allergy flare-ups and the anxiety that goes with them. FurnaceCompare recently published a guide that discussed this in detail. Check it out here. David
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If you haven’t already read the book, it’s a great place to start - Relationship Reboot: Break free from the bad habits in your relationship.
David B. Younger, Ph.D. is the creator of Love After Kids, for couples that have grown apart since having children. He is a clinical psychologist and couples therapist with a web-based private practice and lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, 13-year-old son, 4-year-old daughter and 6-year-old toy poodle.
If you haven’t already read the book, it’s a great place to start - Relationship Reboot: Break free from the bad habits in your relationship.
David B. Younger, Ph.D. is the creator of Love After Kids, for couples that have grown apart since having children. He is a clinical psychologist and couples therapist with a web-based private practice and lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, 13-year-old son, 4-year-old daughter and 6-year-old toy poodle.
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