If youre one of the 70 million Americans who have some type of allergy, you might find that the reason for it is inside your home maybe inside your daily paper. Ten years of investigation by a team of scientists indicates that items such as carpeting, wallpaper, household cleaners, and newspaper ink might be the cause of your allergy.
If youre feeling uncomfortable in your own house, see your allergist. Hell scratch your skin with a battery of possible household allergens. After twenty minutes, hell be able to tell if youve had an allergic reaction. Some allergists now arrange home visits to check for possible allergens that could have been overlooked.
Dust is one of the major causes of allergy, and carpets love to hold onto dust. Even after theyre freshly vacuumed, they still contain an incredible amount. Carpets generate their own house dust when normal wear causes the fabric to break up and pollute the air with microscopic particles.
If you discover that youre allergic to your carpet, get rid of it if possible. Throw rugs on the other hand, can be washed frequently enough so they dont provide a cozy home for house dust.
Wallpaper can also contribute to allergies. It may flake, causing irritating cellulose particles to permeate the air. In addition, many wallpaper pastes contain unlabeled insecticides and anti-fungal chemicals. Toxic vapors from cleaning agents such as laundry bleach, scouring powders, window cleaner, room deodorants and furniture polish are also common allergy provokers. Make sure to use rubber gloves when youre cleaning, keep the windows open, and shower when youre done. You can also check the health food store and even grocery shelves for natural, non-toxic cleaning supplies.
Many people find the ink in newspaper print especially troublesome. Experts suggest placing the newspaper in the sun for a few minutes to dry the ink, or reading it later in the day. Even better, get your news on line at Thirdage.com! Reading the newspaper first thing in the morning can make you sick in more ways than one.
Robin Westen writes about health for national magazines.
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