Did you know that according to the National Institutes of Health, over 50% of Americans have at least one allergy? Most often, people are allergic to airborne particles, such as pollen or dust, which can make avoidance difficult.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s 2016 spring allergy report, Knoxville ranks as the United States’ No. 9 “most challenging place to live with spring allergies.”
What else should you know, considering that “allergy season” is quickly approaching? Here are a few interesting facts.
1. It’s Not Cat Hair You Hate
If you’re allergic to an animal, fur isn’t the actual issue — it’s the dander from the pet’s skin and their saliva. If you live with pets, groom them frequently to prevent yourself from coming in contact with these allergens. You should also clean furniture surfaces frequently, as this is often where animal allergens will settle. A good air conditioning system, especially one combined with a HEPA filter, will also help to keep various allergens out of the air, allowing you to breathe easy. If you get a high efficiency HVAC system, you can reduce your energy use by 50%!
2. Opening the Window in Spring
Don’t leave your windows open this spring. Why? Quite obviously, you’re going to let in all the allergens that will get your eyes running and your nose sniffling. Instead, set your HVAC system to “recirculate” and keep it in filter only mode if it’s not so warm, but if you want a flow of clean air. What’s more, ragweed pollen season has gotten longer over the years. In Minneapolis, for example, the ragweed season is now 16 days longer than it used to be. It’s truly a good time to keep the windows closed and the HVAC systems on, so get yours inspected in the spring to make sure everything runs smoothly.
3. Strange Experiments
Is there a cure for your allergies? Though science has come up with a few potential solutions, British-born entrepreneur Jasper Lawrence had an interesting idea: he flew to Cameroon and walked barefoot near the open toilets, hoping to acquire hookworms and thus cure his allergies. Surprisingly: it worked. Previous studies have indeed found that the body’s immune responses to allergies are often distracted in the presence of parasites.
About 66% of American homes have an air conditioner. If you want to avoid allergies, but have no choice but to open the window, contact a heating and air conditioning company today to learn more about your options for better breathing!
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