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By JANE E.
My friend Gail is allergic to cats.
However, she is committed to sharing the two lovely Siam of her home, and she chooses to endure her chronic nasal congestion and cough rather than giving them up.
She is not alone.
75% of the people who gave up pets are advised by an allergic scientist to refuse.
Can Gail and her allergic compatriots learn to live a healthier life with their pets?
Yes, says Shirlee Kalstone, author of pet allergy?
Breakthrough Guide to Living with your loved animals "(Dell, $7. 99).
She does have a lot of potential audience.
There are more than 0. 15 billion pet owners in the United States alone, of which 1 out of 10 pets is allergic to animals they like. Ms.
Kalstone insists that "giving up pet ownership or giving up pets should be the last step that an allergic person must take, not the first.
"Although not everyone is willing to adopt Ms.
Many suggestions from Kalstone, obviously there are some steps to help most pets
People with allergies learn to live more comfortably with their cats, dogs, rabbits, birds, gerrats, hamsters, horses or whatever --have-you.
Nevertheless, not everyone can find enough relief from allergic symptoms.
Consider if you don't want to be disturbed: the only "safe" pet with allergies is fish, frogs, toads, turtles, lizards, snakes and most insects --
It may be interesting but not cute.
Every animal with hair, fur or feathers has the potential to cause allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to allergens --
Saliva, protein in urine, secretions from skin oil glands and tiny dead skin particles that keep falling off these animals.
These allergens can be dispersed directly into the air or taken to hair, fur or feathers that fall off the animal.
Pet allergens can then be deposited on clothes, furniture, bedding, carpets, shoes, curtains, blinds and even walls.
They can be delivered to the entire home by heating and air
Air conditioning pipes.
Even if the pet is gone, the house is completely cleaned and allergens remain in the carpet and furniture.
Over time, allergies develop with repeated exposures, so even when a pet enters the house for the first time, one does not respond and does not know what will happen later.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University have found that exposure to pets increases the risk of asthma symptoms in older children.
On the other hand, sometimes low repetition
Levels of contact with pet allergens can happily lead to sensitivity reduction, just as it happens after years of allergic injections.
No dog or cat causes no allergies, although some breeds cause more problems than others.
All the dogs and cats are falling off, but those dogs and cats in double clothes
Like the Springer Spaniards, shepherd dogs, German shepherd dogs, and Jesus.
More than others shed
The varieties considered to be less allergic include poodles, bisenfreis, babatos and Portuguese water dogs whose single hairs are soft, silky or curly (no undercoats). Light-
Ladies, colored cats tend to be less allergic than those with dark coats
Kalstone reports
However, even a cat without hair can cause symptoms.
There are individual differences between breeds: a Mayo Clinic study found that some cats have 100 times more allergens than other cats of the same breed.
Some birds also cause more problems than others, especially the problem of "powder pouring --
Parrots, cockatoos, African ash and pigeons
A large amount of white powder dust is produced every day.
The most important step in reducing pet allergies is containment.
Keep pets away from the bedroom and do not use furniture that people use if possible.
Leave the dog or cat's own sofa or floor cushion with a washable cover.
Keep birds, rabbits and rodents in cages.
Never let pets and people with allergies sleep.
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If possible, limit the animals to several rooms with no carpet, carpet or upholstered furniture.
In the car, pack the pet or place it on a washable cover with a hole-free underside.
The second and most important step is to clean up regularly.
Your Pet, its place and your home
It's better to be non-allergic.
Dogs or cats should be cleaned once a week, or at least once with a pet allergy relief solution such as an allergic pet or an allergic pet.
Birds also like to take a bath.
Haven't you ever seen a person splash in puddles or ponds?
Even large birds will enjoy a light shower with a spray that can inhibit allergens.
The military should also be cleaned every week, the cat litter box should be emptied every day, and the cat litter box should be replaced every week.
If you don't have an allergic assistant, consider yourself.
Clean the bin.
Pet pads and blankets should be cleaned once a week in hot water and rolldried.
When handling pets, put the towel on the leg and put on washable clothes that are washed separately from other clothes.
If the pet licks you, wash your skin with soap and water as soon as possible.
Next, keep your home clean, not only to remove pet allergens, but also to remove other substances that usually cause allergies, such as powdered mites, mold and pollen.
Clean once a week and if you do, put a dust cover on your mouth and nose.
Capture small allergens with a damp or static dust-proof cloth, a damp mop and a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter or vacuum bag.
Let someone else change the vacuum bag if possible.
Install a HEPA air purifier in the bedroom (
Also, consider having other people in the room where pets live).
Remove the carpet and use only the washable carpet where the animal lives.
Avoid using fabric wall coverings, heavy curtains and blinds with slats that capture pet allergens in dust and air.
Use washable curtains and rolls
Up the curtains.
If you have a cat, wipe the walls or vacuum on a regular basis to remove the sticky air allergens produced by the cat.
Use filters on vents to prevent allergens from spreading throughout the home.
Reduce exposure to all kinds of allergens, not just those of pets.
This includes dust and pollen, as well as irritating substances such as tobacco smoke, perfume and fragrance soap and lotion, air freshener, aerosol, household chemicals, pesticides and paint smoke.
The most important thing is to control allergen exposure in the bedroom of an allergic population.
Low Allergy only (
It's non-feathers)
Pillows and quilts;
Mattress and pillow inproof covers;
Change bedding every week and clean it with hot water;
Dust is often under and behind the bed, behind the dresser and bedside table, and on the skirting board.
Ceiling fans are notorious dust collectors, and once turned on, the dust will spread all over the room.
The top of the blade should be cleaned frequently.
Keep the bedroom away from the vacuum cleaner, especially the plush toy.
If all the other methods fail and the pet is considered an indispensable family member, there are two possible treatments: Taking antihistamine drugs or a series of anti-sensitivity injections every day
Effective footage has been developed for cat allergies.
A version of this article appears on the New York edition F7 page with the title: learn to live with your pet (
And breathing).
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