7 Keys to Relieve Your Child's Allergies

Improve Air Quality In Your Home
Recent research has found that the air quality inside many homes is often even worse than outside. One reason for this is that pollen, pollutants and irritants from outside are easily carried into the home on our hair, clothing or pets, and enter through our windows and doors. These substances can be trapped inside the home, leading to higher, more harmful concentrations. Also, the home contains many potential sources of toxic fumes, pollutants and particles that can contribute to poor air quality without us knowing it.
New research from Germany's Helmholtz Research Centre for Environment and Health also found a strong correlation between the distance children live from a main road and their risk of allergies. Children living less than 50 metres from a major road had a 50% higher risk of allergies, eczema and allergies than children living farther away (published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, June 15, 2008).
Cigarette smoke, already known to increase risk of asthma in children, has been shown to sensitize children to airborne allergens like cat dander and dust mites, and also leads to food allergies (study by Swedish Karolinska Institute published in medical journal, Thorax).
Other common sources of indoor air pollutants and allergens are fumes and mold. The chlorine in ordinary tap water releases fumes when heated. Gas stoves and heaters, many ordinary household cleaners, plastics (especially if heated), carpeting, varnishes, polishes, even fabric can give off toxic fumes, sometimes for years after purchase. Mold, on the other hand, mostly grows in warm, humid bathrooms or moist areas of the home.
To improve the quality of air in your home, you can:
1. Use an air purifier (such as the HEPA filter) that can filter out airborne allergens. 2. Use natural cleaners such a white vinegar and baking soda instead of chemical cleaners. 3. Dust-proof your home - Keep furry toys, frills, cushions, carpeting and other dust traps to a minimum, especially in bedrooms. Wash curtains and bedding weekly in hot water. Dust and vacuum weekly (being careful not to stir up dust). 4. Install a chlorine filter on showerhead or bath taps. 5. Protect from heavy nearby traffic by planting a high hedge of low-allergen shrubs. 6. Remove clothing and shoes outside before entering the house, and wipe down pets before they enter, especially in pollen season. 7. Avoid or get rid of kitchenware, toys, or furnishings that have a noticeable smell