Breaking Barriers toa Healthy Home

Breaking Barriers to a Healthy Home

Healthy indoor air comes at a price greater than the elbow grease expended:

The initial costs to purchase dust-mite-proof encasings and replace aging upholstered furniture and carpeting

The lack of family support for the changes needed

The emotional and physical impact of making lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking or restricting pets

However, changing your environment is not an all-or-nothing proposition. You have a pretty good chance of success if you prioritize your allergy proofing steps according to:

The allergens most responsible for causing symptoms

Available finances

The level of cooperation required of each family member in creating a healthy home environment

Tackle the allergens and irritants most responsible for symptoms starting in the bedroom - where you and your kids will spend more than half your life!
From there, search and destroy allergens and irritants in the kitchen and bathrooms where mold, moisture, and ventilation issues reign.

Don?t overlook basements, crawl spaces, and attached garages - out of sight and out of mind for mold, dust, off-gassing from stored chemicals, and carbon monoxide (garage).

Family rooms host a variety of allergens and irritants, all of which are better dealt with as a family. It?s often been said that allergy and irritant proofing a house exposes cracks in the family structure. Negotiating, listening, and problem-solving skills will be put to the test. Budget planning, keeping a positive attitude, and prioritizing tasks can be challenging. However, successful achievement yields rewards both in health and happiness.

Getting started:

House Dust Mites - microscopic critters that feast on shed flakes of human skin; found wherever a food source is available ( pillows, bedding, upholstered furniture, carpet, stuffed toys)

It?s their lighter-than-air fecal matter and decaying body parts that we breathe all night long that provoke allergy symptoms and asthma.

Cockroaches - insects found wherever food and water sources exists (kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, under the couch)

Cockroaches are prolific creatures commonly found in apartment buildings or homes in woodland, urban, suburban, and rural areas. It?s their decaying body parts and waste products that produce nasal (rhinitis) and asthma symptoms as they become airborne.

Pet Allergens - dander, urine, and saliva proteins produced by cats, dogs, bunnies, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, etc. cause nasal and respiratory symptoms

Symptoms may linger long after the animal has moved out of the home. Thorough cleaning with allergen-neutralizing solutions and HEPA filtering vacuums is required.

Irritants - building materials, new carpets, furniture, and cabinetry often contain formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds (VOC) known to provoke nasal and lower respiratory symptoms

Carpets laid on top of concrete floors create a reservoir for mold and fungal allergens.

Tobacco smoke lingers on walls, carpets, and clothing and forms a film inside the ductwork lining central heating and air conditioning systems, causing dust particles to cling, encouraging the growth of bacteria and fungus, and reducing HVAC performance and efficiency.

Attached garages, poorly vented kitchen stoves and clothes dryers, laundry rooms, and bathrooms harbor a virtual cocktail of allergens and irritants.

Help On The Way:

Natural Approach to Allergies and Asthma Going Green and Toxic Awareness

Good Parenting

Green Living - Think Green - Go Green

		Breaking Barriers to a Healthy Home Healthy indoor air comes at a price greater than the elbow grease expended: The initial costs to purchase dust-mite-proof encasings and replace aging upholstered furniture and carpeting The lack of family support for the changes needed The emotional and physical impact of making lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking or restricting pets However, changing your environment is not an all-or-nothing proposition. You have a pretty good chance of success if you prioritize your allergy proofing steps according to: The allergens most responsible for causing symptoms Available finances The level of cooperation required of each family member in creating a healthy home environment Tackle the allergens and irritants most responsible for symptoms starting in the bedroom - where you and your kids will spend more than half your life! From there, search and destroy allergens and irritants in the kitchen and bathrooms where mold, moisture, and ventilation issues reign. Don?t overlook basements, crawl spaces, and attached garages - out of sight and out of mind for mold, dust, off-gassing from stored chemicals, and carbon monoxide (garage). Family rooms host a variety of allergens and irritants, all of which are better dealt with as a family. It?s often been said that allergy and irritant proofing a house exposes cracks in the family structure. Negotiating, listening, and problem-solving skills will be put to the test. Budget planning, keeping a positive attitude, and prioritizing tasks can be challenging. However, successful achievement yields rewards both in health and happiness. Getting started: House Dust Mites - microscopic critters that feast on shed flakes of human skin; found wherever a food source is available ( pillows, bedding, upholstered furniture, carpet, stuffed toys) It?s their lighter-than-air fecal matter and decaying body parts that we breathe all night long that provoke allergy symptoms and asthma. Cockroaches - insects found wherever food and water sources exists (kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, under the couch) Cockroaches are prolific creatures commonly found in apartment buildings or homes in woodland, urban, suburban, and rural areas. It?s their decaying body parts and waste products that produce nasal (rhinitis) and asthma symptoms as they become airborne. Pet Allergens - dander, urine, and saliva proteins produced by cats, dogs, bunnies, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, etc. cause nasal and respiratory symptoms Symptoms may linger long after the animal has moved out of the home. Thorough cleaning with allergen-neutralizing solutions and HEPA filtering vacuums is required. Irritants - building materials, new carpets, furniture, and cabinetry often contain formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds (VOC) known to provoke nasal and lower respiratory symptoms Carpets laid on top of concrete floors create a reservoir for mold and fungal allergens. Tobacco smoke lingers on walls, carpets, and clothing and forms a film inside the ductwork lining central heating and air conditioning systems, causing dust particles to cling, encouraging the growth of bacteria and fungus, and reducing HVAC performance and efficiency. Attached garages, poorly vented kitchen stoves and clothes dryers, laundry rooms, and bathrooms harbor a virtual cocktail of allergens and irritants. Help On The Way: Natural Approach to Allergies and Asthma Going Green and Toxic Awareness Good Parenting Green Living - Think Green - Go Green