| By :
Debbie Davis
Holidays bring a lot of joy and love into our lives. Unfortunately they also bring a lot more allergens too. If you have asthma, allergies or any other respiratory conditions, avoiding these 4 potent allergens will help your holidays be merry and bright. Dust---This is a fact of life that is never going to go away completely. And with all of our technological advances it's still a real pain. Digging up decorations and other holiday items that have been stored in the basement, garage, attic, or closet can really cloud the air with all kinds of particles that make up dust. And shaking it off is the worse possible thing to do. Try vacuuming decorations before disturbing them too much. And don't be ashamed to wear a mask. Better to look a little funny than experience asthma or allergy flare-up right in the middle of the season. Using plastic containers or other big storage containers will stop dust from getting on each item. Besides, vacuuming one big container is way easier than vacuuming tons of individual items. Fragrances---Holidays are all about the smells and memories they evoke. If you're allergic or asthmatic those same smells can evoke memories and even fear of the reaction they can cause your body to have. Go easy on the candles, incense and plug-in air fresheners. Instead try more natural based smells such as cinnamon, cloves, and other herbs and spices. If you know which scents send your body into overdrive, be sure to alert family and friends. They would probably rather clear the air than have you get sick on their watch. Smoke---With the banning of smoking in so many restaurants and other public places, it's become much easier to avoid this irritant. However, at private holiday gatherings that may not be the case. If smoke is one of the allergens that cause you big problems don't hesitate to ask about smoking before you accept an invitation. Even small amounts of smoke from fireplaces can cause problems. So case the joint Mold and Mildew Spores---If you are bringing in live greenery for decorations, beware of mold and mildew that may have starting growing. If you are highly allergic to any type of mold, you might want to think about fake decorations. As wonderful as the smell of pine is, if there is a possibility that other irritants from the tree can cause health problems, not having a live tree is a no-brainer.. Limiting these allergens during the holidays and every day is a proactive yet non-invasive way to control respiratory conditions. And another effective way to drastically and continually reduce airborne allergens is to filter from the air with a high efficiency particle arresting (HEPA) filter. In spite of the many advances that medicine has made, doctors still agree that the best way to minimize respiratory flare-ups is to avoid the trigger. And filtering the air helps make that happen.
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