Our air is not that bad afterall?

photo by Boyce Duprey

Despite the bad air quality that we have here in LA, I was surprised to see today's report from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America about the 100 most challenging US cities to live in if you suffer from fall allergies, where Dayton, Ohio topped the list while NY city ranked number 17, and LA was 75!

Currently there are 40 million American adults and children who suffer from nasal allergies and that number continues to grow every year. Here are some effective steps one can take to help manage the symptoms and reduce exposure to allergens – indoors and outdoors – all year long.

— Relieve your symptoms: Many health plans ask patients to look in the pharmacy first for allergy relief, so talk to your pharmacist about over-the-counter options such as nasal rinsing/irrigation, antihistamines and other options.

— Prevent pollen from getting indoors: You can reduce the number of outdoor allergens such as pollen and mold from entering the home by keeping windows and doors closed and setting the air conditioner on re-circulate.

— Vacuum once or twice weekly: Vacuuming helps keep allergens to a minimum.

— Use air handling devices: Using a HEPA air filter in rooms can help remove allergen particles from the air. Air conditioners and dehumidifiers can help reduce humidity. full story