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"The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) ranked
the Lehigh Valley, PA, as the 10th worst area for allergies in the U.S. "
- Click here or scroll down to read entire article. What is an allergy?
An allergy is an overreaction of the immune system
to certain substances. These substances can trigger coughing, sneezing,
and wheezing. Allergies are not only bothersome, but many have been linked
to serious chronic respiratory illnesses (such as sinusitis and asthma).
There is hope, allergic diseases can be controlled.
Consider some of the substances that cause allergic
reactions:
 Pollen is one of the leading causes of seasonal allergies.
In spring and summer pollen particles are released into the air we breathe,
causing seasonal rhinitis, commonly referred to as hay fever (nasal/sinus
allergies). A single plant may produce millions of pollen grains per day.
Individuals with pollen allergies can develop sensitivities to other allergens
such as dust mites, pet dander, and mold spores.
 Molds are a leading cause of seasonal allergic rhinitis. There are thousands
of types of mold. It is usually mold spores that actually cause mold allergies.
A single mold growth can spawn millions of spores.
Molds can be found wherever moisture and oxygen are present.
Inside your home, molds can be found in basements, bathrooms, air conditioning,
humidifiers,and anywhere damp like walls or carpet.
Mold allergies are caused by inhaled mold spores. Spores
lodge in the upper respiratory system or in the lungs where they cause
irritation.
Dust Mites and House Dust  In the home, the most significant contributor to allergies is the dust mite. In fact, clinical studies show that allergic sensitization to the house dust mite is the most common cause of allergy in asthmatics.
Dust mites are microscopic relatives of ticks and
spiders that thrive in warm, humid places. The harmful allergens are actually
found in the dust mite's fecal matter. These allergen become airborne
and are easily breathed into the lungs. House dust mites primarily live
on dead skin cells regularly shed from humans and their animal pets.
Dust mites thrive in mattresses and carpets. The average
bedroom can be infested with millions of mites. Given the amount of time
the average individual spends in bed each day, dust mites account for
the allergy misery of millions of Americans daily.
 Symptoms of pet allergies include sneezing, watery and itching
eyes, hives, coughing, soar throat, post nasal drip, stuffy nose, and
breathing difficulties.
Surprising, pet hair is not considered to be a very significant
allergen . Most pet allergies are caused by proteins secreted by oil glands
in the animal's skin. These proteins are shed in skin flakes or dander
as it is often known. Dander becomes airborne and causes respiratory difficulty.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are
emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of
chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects.
Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors VOCs are emitted by
a wide array of products such as paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning
supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings, office equipment such
as copiers and printers, correction fluids and carbonless copy paper, graphics
and craft materials including glues and adhesives, permanent markers, and
photographic solutions.
~~~~~
The EPA (US Environmental Protection
Agency) lists the following as the Top Indoor Environmental Allergens and Asthma
Triggers:
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Second hand cigarette smoke
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Pets - warm-blooded mammalian
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Cockroaches
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Dust mites
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Molds
Click here to
view our Allergen and Asthma Trigger Testing Special of $399.
Indoor Air Quality in the Lehigh Valley
Most agree that the Lehigh Valley offers its residents a good quality of life.
One quality of life measurement that the Allentown-Bethlehem area consistently
rates poorly in its air quality. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
(AAFA) ranked the Lehigh Valley, PA, as the 10th worst area for allergies in the
U.S. This is no secret to the area’s residents and visitors who are greeted
with runny noses, coughing, itchiness, sneezing and other allergy symptoms
brought by spring. While residents are willing to compromise the Lehigh Valley’s
poor air quality for the other benefits of Lehigh Valley living, they do not
have to comprise the quality of air they breathe indoors.
“There is no other
activity that we do more than breathe,” says Keith Roe owner of Air Care &
Restoration Co., Inc. in Bethlehem. “The average person takes 23,000 breaths a
day and spends 80% of their time indoors but doesn’t realize that they are
breathing air that may be contaminated. People don’t realize that indoor air
pollution exists and the quality of air we breathe directly affects our health.”
The questions many people ask are usually the same.
What is indoor
pollution?
Indoor air pollution is comprised of three parts: chemical, particulate and
microbial. Chemical pollutants are generated from cleaning products and building
materials, particulate arise from smoke and dust and microbial contaminants
include bacteria, viruses and spores from fungal colonies.
How does it
affect our health?
The American Medical Association attributes poor indoor air quality to be direct
cause for a third of the country’s national health bill. The effects of indoor
air pollution range from temporary issues like allergy-like symptoms to
permanent conditions that may affect the body’s vital organs.
What can be
done to improve indoor air quality?
Roe says companies
like his can visit buildings, collect air sample and analyze the samples at a
laboratory to identify if and what chemical, particulate and microbial
contaminates exist. Depending on which contaminates are present and how
extensive the problem, systems can be put in place to restore air quality. These
systems range from a few hundred dollars for a small single room purifier to a
thousand dollars and up for whole house systems that work with the HVAC system.
HVAC systems are good for filtering air, but they do not purify the air.
However, the air
duct system, when properly cleaned, can be used as an excellent
whole house air purification device. When a whole house clean air system is
properly designed and installed in your system, you will see and feel the
difference - We Guarantee it!
For more
information, Keith Roe of Air Care & Restoration can be reached at 610-865-8090.
For information on
air quality issues, visit www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/index.html, www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/indoorairquality/index.html,
and www.allergyactionplan.com.
Excerpted from
Lifestyles Over 50 magazine,
Lehigh Valley, PA
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