6 medical tips to reduce allergens in your home

People with allergies know very well that this season of allergies is the worst of the last few years, not just for the facts and figures like the amount of pollen, but also for all runny nose and itchy eyes.

But beware, allergens are not limited. Airborne allergens, such as pollen, can invade your home and have your symptoms tested 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

There is hope, however. We talked to Dr. Maria Castells , an allergy and immunologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, gave six tips to reduce allergens in her home.

1. Close your window by the afternoon.

There's nothing like falling asleep with the summer breeze to keep you cool, but this breeze can be a clogged morning.

"When spring comes and the temperatures are higher, the pollen will be in the air from 4 am to 12 or 13 pm and pollen in the room is not a good idea," he said. Castells explains.

Castells recommends using air conditioning on hot nights.

2. Use an air purifier.

It goes without saying that an air purifier is a must for allergy sufferers in the spring. Castells said it will clean the air of pollen particles in the air and mold spores that will inevitably get into your home, but it will not do much to eliminate the allergens that have already lodged on the surfaces. like carpets and rugs.

3. Remove the decoration that accumulates dust.

Castells simply recommends getting rid of carpets and rugs. Pollen and mold spores can attach themselves to the fibers and trigger allergies, he said. "Avoid things that get very dusty."

4. Aspirate, especially the bedroom.

If it can not be separated from your carpet or rug, vacuuming is a sensible alternative. Focus on cleaning the room, Castells recommended, because people spend most of their time here.

5. Dust.

Removing pollen, mold spores and mites can be as easy as using a damp cloth, with or without detergent. Castells suggested using a damp cloth so you could pick up the pollen instead of beating it in the air, making the situation even worse.

6. Keep pets out of your room.

After playing outdoors during peak pollen activity, animals can carry allergens not only at home, but also in their bedroom and bed, says Castells.

Do you want to prevent your pets from collecting pollen on their fur? Castells recommends walking with them after 4pm or playing where there are not many plants or trees when the pollen is no longer in the air.

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