By Pam Starr
Finola Hughes has suffered from allergies for much of her life.
As a child growing up in damp London, Hughes had severe allergies, but grew out of them by the age of 10. When she moved to New York as an adult, Hughes developed a cough that was caused by dust mites.
But the Emmy Award-winning actress, best known for her recurring role as Anna Devane on “General Hospital,” now lives practically allergy-free in Southern California. The mother of three even has an indoor Labrador retriever — and doesn’t sniffle.
“I don’t get allergy shots or use medication,” Hughes says. “Relief came when we encased our mattresses and pillows. Aller-Ease approached me to be their spokesperson, and it was a perfect fit. I’ve been using their products for years but didn’t know it.”
Aller-Ease is a brand of bedding that is made by Pittsburgh’s American Textile Company. Hughes, host of Style TV’s “How Do I Look” show, says Aller-Ease is not your typical crinkly, uncomfortable pillow protector.
“They have great new cotton products,” she says. “The fabric has to be woven so tightly so nothing can get in.”
Fall allergies are nothing to sneeze about if you’re one of an estimated 62 million Americans who have them. Right now, in the Pittsburgh area, the ragweed and sagebrush is in full swing, according to Pollen.com. That spells misery for hay fever sufferers, says Monroeville allergist Barry Asman .
“When someone has an allergy, it means that their body has created an antibody against a certain protein in the environment,” says Asman, of the Allergy & Asthma Care Center. “The first step is to find out what you’re allergic to and learn how to avoid it. The second step is medication. The third step, if the first two steps have failed, is allergy shots.”
When dealing with pollens, ragweed runs from about Aug. 15 to the first frost. Pollen counts are highest in the early morning and late afternoon.
“It’s best to keep your windows closed,” he says. “Don’t hang laundry outside, or your sheets will be full of pollen.”
Some people think they’re allergic to grasses when, in fact, it’s the mold in the dirt that is kicked up by the lawnmowers.
“Mold is going to become an issue because of leaves falling on damp ground, so again, keep your windows closed,” Asman advises. “Some people use humidifiers because they think their rooms are too dry. If you let the water sit in the humidifier, or if you over- humidify your room, mold will grow.”
Once a person knows what he or she is allergic to, they should stay away from the allergen. But Asman knows that it’s a lot easier said than done.
“If you’re allergic to cats or dogs, fall may be worse for you because you bring the animals inside,” he says. “The easy thing to do is to get rid of the dog or cat.
“But in all my years as an allergist, no one has ever done that,” he admits with a laugh. “So, we make compromises. Keep the pet out of the bedroom — that’s ideal. Some say no, the cat stays on the bed. So run a HEPA filter in your bedroom to filter out the animal dander.”
Hughes has a lot of company when it comes to her dust mite allergy. Asman says 20 percent to 30 percent of people are allergic to those pesky critters. They live with you in upholstered and carpeted areas.
“Do the easy things first — use protective pillow cases and mattress covers,” he says. “You can’t eliminate dust mites, but you can decrease them.”
Hughes also suggests washing your bedding in hot water weekly; and removing dust magnets such as toys, books and papers from the bedroom.
“I’ve just learned that you should clean your children’s soft toys or throw them in the freezer for a few hours,” she says. “But I’m not super, super chemically clean. I want my children to build their own immune system. If children are over-sanitized, it’s not healthy.”
If encasing your pillows and mattresses does not bring relief, you might need medication, Asman says. But the wrong medication can cause more problems than the relief is worth.
“For a long time, we used antihistamines such as Benadryl to treat allergies,” he explains. “But reflexes are inhibited by Benadryl, and it’s like you are legally drunk while taking it. That’s not a good option. I’ve seen remarkable improvements with (prescription) nose sprays.”
The last resort, allergy shots, help to make the body less allergic and help about 80 percent of allergy sufferers, Asman says.
Controlling allergens
Actress Finola Hughes offers these tips for helping keep allergens under control in your home:
Encase your pillows and mattresses in allergen-barrier protection, such as Aller-Ease allergen filtration products.
Substitute blinds or shades, which can be cleaned regularly, in place of draperies or curtains.
Change filters monthly for heating and air conditioning.
Turn up the air conditioning on warm days, because the units dehumidify the home and filter the air.
Bathe pets weekly to minimize the spread of dander.
Sanitize the bathroom and kitchen to remove contaminants from buildup.
Replace or wash the shower curtain often.
Do not use aerosol sprays in the bedroom.
Wash sheets weekly in hot water.
Use a dehumidifier to reduce humidity to under 50 percent.
For more information on Aller-Ease, go
online.
(c) 2008 Tribune-Review/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.
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