Your Secret Allergy Triggers - Revealed!

Still sniffling and sneezing even though you're cooped up indoors? There may be allergens hidden in your home.

Your pet: Even if you're not allergic to Fido, dogs-and cats if they roam outside-collect pollen and mold spores on their fur and then track them into your house, says Michael Foggs, M.D., president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma And Immunology. "Wipe down their coats and paws with a clean towel after walks, or anytime they come in from the outdoors," he says.
Your furniture: A lot of upholstered furniture and carpets contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), Which can be emitted into the air in your home over time, says Foggs. They don't technically cause allergies, but the compounds can aggravate your throat and nasal passages, mimicking allergy symptoms-and worsening allergies you do have. In the market for new furnishings? Look for low-VOC labels. If you're having allergy symptoms and can't figure out why, consider having your carpet or furniture tested for VOCs. Send a small wedge of the material to a lab (search "VOC testing lab" to find one near you) and ask them to test for 4-Phenylcyclohexene (4-PC) concentration, says Foggs. "Other chemicals may also be potential offenders but this one is the most common."
Your walls: Have your walls been freshly painted? Latex paint can also release VOCs. Meanwhile, allergy-causing mold can grow beneath sheets of wallpaper. "In mold-prone areas like bathrooms and kitchens, use tile for the walls whenever possible." says Foggs. And look for paints with low or no VOCs.
Your houseplants: While some plants can actually clean your air by emitting high amounts of oxygen, they may also harbor allergy-triggering mold on their leaves, says Foggs. The fix: Wipe houseplants with a clean cloth on a weekly basis.

Protect your home. Call De Caro Insurance Agency at (626) 331-0914 for more information on Huntington Beach home insurance.

(Article courtesy: Parade)

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