Tips from an Allergist

Allergist Dr. Frederic Renold answers common questions about allergens in your home and provides advice for decreasing allergy inducers like dust, mold, pet dander and mildew.

The air your family breathes is one of the most important ways to keep your home healthy. Dust mites, mold and pet dander cause poor indoor air quality that can lead to congestion, headache, fatigue and sometimes worse for allergy and asthma sufferers. What can you do to eliminate these pesky particles? We asked Dr. Frederic Renold for his expert opinion on how to keep your home free of allergens. What we got were some great tips for anyone who's concerned about the air in their home! Please note that Dr. Renold is giving his medical opinion on the general topic of air quality. For medical advice specific to your condition, consult your doctor or allergist directly.

Everyone's allergies are unique, but many of us have the same questions about how to handle them! Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about allergies and allergens in the home, with answers from allergist Dr. Frederic Renold.

How can I get fresh, clean air and improve the quality of air inside my home?
There are some easy ways to improve the quality of air in your home, including:

• Cleaning - Cleaning floors, furniture, walls and cabinets regularly can significantly reduce the amount of allergens in the home that otherwise end up in the air.
• Filtering - Filtering - Using a filter on products in your home like vacuums and central heating and cooling systems, can capture many of the allergens in the air and keeps them from circulating through your home.
• Bringing in Outdoor Air - Allowing filtered outdoor air to circulate through your home through your central heating and cooling system is highly recommended to reduce indoor pollutants and freshen the air in your home.
• Controlling Humidity - Keeping the humidity level as low as your family is comfortable can reduce allergens like mold spores and dust mites.
By doing these things, you can improve the air quality in your home - and reduce the harmful effects of allergens on your health.

How can I "allergy-proof" my home?
Unfortunately there's no such thing as an "allergy-proof" home, because it's almost impossible to create a sterile environment outside of a hospital operating room. But you can keep allergens at a minimum with thorough, regular cleaning and proper air filtration.