Pennsylvania Allergens
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The most important action you can take to reduce your allergy symptoms is to avoid or reduce contact with your allergens. For example, if you are allergic to pollens and molds, try staying inside as much as possible in the morning, when pollen levels are highest. If you work outdoors, or like to yard work, try wearing a lightweight face mask.
Most times, pollen grains enter your home on your clothes, hair and/or on the fur of pets. When you come home, be sure to shower and wash your hair—especially before going to bed. As for pets, you should try to have someone who is not allergic brush and wash them as often as you can especially during peak pollen season. Keep pets out of your bedroom and off of your furniture. If keeping them off furniture isn't possible, cover its favorite spot with sheets than can be washed easily and often. |
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To help avoid pollen grains from entering your home, keep the windows closed and use an air conditioner. Electrostatic filters in your furnace or air conditioner will also help to trap pollen grains. If you don't have an air-conditioning, putting an ordinary furnace filter in your window will help screen out pollen grains and mold spores.
If you have forced air heating or air conditioning system, using a double layer of cheese cloth or inexpensive filter material over your heating vents will help trap airborne allergens before they enter the rooms.
Never lay carpeting on concrete floors or in damp areas such as basements or bathrooms. Dry cleaning as opposed to steam cleaning your carpets is highly recommended. Steam cleaning leaves carpets and carpet pads damp for hours if not days.
(For additional avoidance techniques, please consult your allergist)
State of the Air Report
The American Lung Association has published its 18th Annual State of the Air Report which includes national air quality grades and rankings of cities across the nation based on ozone pollution (sometimes called smog) and particle pollution (sometimes called soot). The report addresses air quality concerns in the following areas: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Johnstown-Somerset, Altoona, Lancaster, Harrisburg-York-Lebanon, Erie-Meadville, and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazelton.
If you have forced air heating or air conditioning system, using a double layer of cheese cloth or inexpensive filter material over your heating vents will help trap airborne allergens before they enter the rooms.
Never lay carpeting on concrete floors or in damp areas such as basements or bathrooms. Dry cleaning as opposed to steam cleaning your carpets is highly recommended. Steam cleaning leaves carpets and carpet pads damp for hours if not days.
(For additional avoidance techniques, please consult your allergist)
State of the Air Report
The American Lung Association has published its 18th Annual State of the Air Report which includes national air quality grades and rankings of cities across the nation based on ozone pollution (sometimes called smog) and particle pollution (sometimes called soot). The report addresses air quality concerns in the following areas: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Johnstown-Somerset, Altoona, Lancaster, Harrisburg-York-Lebanon, Erie-Meadville, and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazelton.
