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Indoor allergens share the most intimate quarters of your home. And if you suer from allergies, they can leave you with nowhere to retreat from your runny nose, itchy eyes, and sore throat. The good news is, there are things you can do to reduce the number of allergens rooming with you. Here are some tips from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (www.aaaai.org) and WebMD (www.webmd.com) for controlling common indoor allergens. DUST MITES Encase all pillows, mattresses, and box springs in zippered plastic or special allergen-proof fabric. Wash all bed linens in hot water (at least 130 degrees) every one to two weeks. Remove wall-to-wall carpeting. PETS If possible, keep your home free of warm-blooded pets (alternative pets could include sh, turtles, or lizards). If you do have a pet, a partial solution is to keep the animal outdoors. However, even homes with pets in the yard have higher concentrations of animal dander. Never allow pets to go into the bedroom of the family member with allergies. MOLD Clean visible mold with a cleaning solution containing 5 percent bleach and a small amount of detergent. Avoid damp areas of your home or use a dehumidier to lower humidity in those areas. If mold or mildew are visible in carpeting or wallpaper, remove those items from your home. POLLEN Close all windows to prevent pollen from entering and run a HEPA or ULPA air conditioner and air purier. Clean and replace your air conditioner lters regularly. Wash your hair before going to bed to avoid getting pollen on your pillow. Need a doctor to help you with allergies? Visit chistjoseph.org/ ndadoctor. An ALLERGYFREE Haven Is It Time to Stop Self-medicating? If you're like most Americans, you spend about 90 percent of your time inside. Unfortunately, allergens aren't something you leave at the front door. Many over-the-counter allergy medications require two weeks to begin working fully, and sometimes they just aren't enough. Most patients with seasonal allergies report that self-medicating with over-the-counter options doesn't fully treat their symptoms. If you are one of them, it might be time to speak to your primary care doctor about prescription allergy treatments. Signs you might need a stronger allergy medication include: You are taking your medications consistently and aren't seeing any symptom relief. The relief you are seeing doesn't improve over time. Your symptoms are still interfering with your daily life— causing you to lose sleep, avoid the outdoors, and feel constantly sick or fatigued. 6 CHI ST. JOSEPH HEALTH /// chistjoseph.org