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Asthma-friendly products: Do they help reduce symptoms?
Asthma-friendly products: Just part of the solution
Unfortunately, eliminating asthma and allergy triggers isn't as easy as buying an air filter or a mattress cover, although both these measures can help. You'll never completely get rid of all allergens, especially dust mites. Here are the main ways you can help reduce your exposure:
- Identify your specific asthma or allergy triggers so that you can target them — you may need allergy testing to be sure what they are.
- Try to eliminate or reduce potential sources of allergens and irritants, which can include pets, rodents, cockroaches and cigarette smoke.
- Minimize places allergens can accumulate. One step that can help is to replace carpeting with laminate or hardwood flooring.
- Use an air filter to control allergens that remain airborne, such as pet dander
Have allergies but not asthma? This advice may still apply
As with asthma, household allergens may trigger itchy, watery eyes, a runny nose, sneezing or other symptoms in people who have allergies. But unlike with asthma, these reactions don't involve the lower airways. But taking steps to avoid triggers can still help, since the same environmental allergens that trigger asthma can trigger allergies. As with asthma, the key to deciding whether a product may help is to evaluate whether it's likely to reduce exposure to your particular triggers.
Weigh the benefits before you spend your money
Controlling allergens in your home environment can help reduce asthma and allergies, but it takes some work to determine which products are likely to help you most. When considering asthma-friendly products, weigh the potential benefits with the cost in light of your specific triggers and environment. Don't rely on manufacturer claims. Get advice from your doctor, and do research on your own to find out which products seem worth trying.
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- Where to find asthma & allergy friendly products. Asthma & Allergy Friendly Certification Program. http://www.asthmaandallergyfriendly.com. Accessed Oct. 8, 2008.
- Li JT (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester Minn. Nov. 6, 2007.
- Platts-Mills TA. Indoor allergen avoidance in the treatment of asthma and allergic rhinitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 8, 2008.
- Dales R, et al. Residential exposure to volatile organic compounds and asthma. Journal of Asthma. 2004;41(3):259
- Tips to remember: Indoor allergens. American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/indoorallergens.stm. Accessed Oct. 8, 2008.
