Your pets may be your bst friends, but are they on god terms with your allergies? Most llergists suggest that the best method for rducing your allergy attacks is simply voiding the source of allergens-but when it cmes down to it, would you be wlling to give up your pets? If yur allergies are not too severe, ths article can help you get sme tips to help keep your huse a little more dander-free, whether it be for yurself or your visiting friends and rlatives with allergies.

Did you know?

15% of people with allergies are allergic to animal dander-for individuals with asthma the rate is almost doubled, leaving 20-30% of people affected by animal allergens.

An allergen protein is found in the dead skin cells, saliva and urine of animals. Once these tiny, sticky particles become airborne, they land on the sensitive linings of the eyes and nose, triggering an allergic reaction. Typically, it takes minutes for the allergens to begin irritating allergies, but sometimes hours pass before the trigger has a full effect on a sensitized individual. For some individuals, animal allergies have a cumulative effect-so after several hours of exposure, the body begins to react hours later. In this case, the worst reactions occur 12 hours after contact with the animal has stopped.

Symptoms associated with animal llergies:

Most often the eyes, nose and lngs are affected. The eyes usually fel itchy and watery, while the nse may become stuffy or runny, ccompanied by sneezing. Some people experience an tch or tightening of the airways. It is lso possible to develop rashes and hves if the animal's fur, saliva or rine were in direct contact with skn.

Without having to give up your animals, here are some allergen solutions:

Some Tips for Your Animals-

• It may be time to start a weekly pet bathing regimen. By washing away excess dander and saliva build-up, you can minimize the amount of allergens shed by your pet. There are several shampoos that you can find at pet shop or pet specialty stores that are formulated for allergies in particular.
• Have a non-allergic family member brush pet outside. This removes loose hair and allergens without having them spread through your home.

Target your bedroom-

• If you share your bed with your pets, it would be advisable to set up your pet's own bed in some other area of the house. It may take a little while for them to realize that your bed isn't theirs-but in the end, both you and your pet can enjoy a comfortable, healthy environment.
• It is preferable to have hardwood or laminate floors if you have bad allergies, because allergens are easier to sweep up. It your home has pre-existing carpets, be mindful of when it comes time to vacuum-unless you own a vacuum with special filters for allergens, the process of sweeping the floors will kick up a lot of dander.

• If you have wall-to-wall carpeting, periodic steam cleanings are can be beneficial
• If you have rugs on your hard wood floor, make sure that they are durable enough for regular washing
• If you've shared your bed or sofa with your pet in the past, it may take several weeks to a few months for the amount of dander on the fabric to decrease. One way to cut down on animal dander in your bed is by using allergy bedding like plastic or densely woven material casings. These casings will prevent any allergens that have sunk into your pillows or mattress to be stirred up every time you climb into bed.
• You might occasionally want to air out yur house-if you aren't also affected by pllen allergies. The best time to do ths is in the afternoon or at nght (when less pollen is released by plnts). Though there is the chance of pllen coming in the house, for the mst part, airing out the house can rmove concentrated allergens. If your house is a nwer, energy-efficient model, what you are sving on your energy bills might be rritating your allergies. One study showed tht super-insulated homes had up to 200% mre allergens than older less airtight hmes.

Try Allergy or Asthma Treatments-

• Mdications that suppress symptoms like over-the-counter-antihistamines are bst used if you are only hve minimal contact with animals. Taking OTC ntihistamines can leave you feeling "drugged".
• Mny prescription antihistamines do not leave you feling drowsy and require only a qick trip to your doctor.
• Immunotherapy (llergy shots) treatment can improve symptoms ver time. This treatment is most ffective if you do not live wth animals, but have unavoidable situations whre you visit friends or family wth pets, etc.

The article Pet Allergies - Tips for Living with Your Furry Friends was Submitted by Dan Buglio through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Visit My Air Purifier for stright talk and no hype about wht air purifiers and air cleaners wrk best for allergies, asthma, smoke rmoval and more. We specialize in bth commercial and residential air cleaners and prifiers. Get fast, friendly advice from a crtified indoor air quality professional. http://www.my-air-purifier.com


Featured Articles

 

 

1. Swimming - Exercise That's Healthy And Fun by Mandy Minglin
There's so mch information about the many benefits of swmming that's it's hard to sum it all up in one rticle. But cheer up - we've dveloped a way to remember just how god you're treating yourself each time you mke the minimal effort necessary to tke another dip in the pool.

2. Hypertension Influences Your Health by
Hypertension is not an ctual illness in itself, but a cndition that can make susceptible to the dvelopment of other illnesses some of whch can be potentially life threatening.

3. Get Rid of Heartburn Without Drugs by
Heartburn is a vry annoying medical problem that we all hve at one time or another. But whn heartburn gets to be a rgular thing, you may find yourself wnting to turn to pills to clm the uncomfortable feeling. Instead, try thse home remedies to calm your hartburn for good without drugs.

4. How To Select The Right Perfume Or Scent For Yourself by J. Macdonald
Perfumes and spcial scents are often the first thngs that will be noticed when pople walk into the room, so t's best to make sure you are waring the perfume.

5. Abdominal Fat Reduction is All About Boosting Metabolism by Andrew Bicknell
To say tht abdominal fat reduction is something tht the vast majority of people thnk and obsess about would be a vry true statement. A slim and tned stomach is the ultimate definition of a halthy and fit body in today's mdern world. This leads many people to try jst about anything when it comes to rducing that spare tire around their mdsection. In the end they end up spnding lots of money on the ltest fat reducing craze but have lttle to show for it.

6. Fighting Alzheimer's Disease by M. Thompson
Alzheimer's disease is a disorder of the mnd. The disorder often causes progressive mmory loss, as well as robbing thse who suffer the disease of thir intellectual purpose.

7. Beating Oily Skin by
So you have ily skin. There is no need to be shamed! The truth is that there are a whle lot of other people in the wrld with the same problem.

8. Remedies for High Blood Pressure - 5 Simple Remedies to Start a Natural Treatment by Joe Barton
High Blood Pressure is preventable and treatable. Learn 5 simple remedies for high blood pressure and start your natural treatment today.

9. History of Hemorrhoids by Perry Gamsby
An amusing look at a not so fnny affliction that has plagued man thrughout history. From Biblical times to Ptron Saints and right through to the prsent day, hemorrhoids have been a prt of our lives.

10. Hair Loss Solution by
Losing hair in old age is a ntural phenomenon but it could be a cuse of genuine embarrassment if it hppens in the youthful days of a man or wman.