dust- Allergy patients should deal with this first. Hypoallergenic method is wet cleaning with ordinary water and cloth. All horizontal surfaces in the house should be wiped at least once every 1-3 days.
Vacuum cleaners and their filters. Any filter allows dust to pass through, and more often flies through the cracks of the vacuum cleaner itself. The safest cleaning method is a wet mop, broom and rag. Allergy sufferers should completely avoid "dry" cleaning at home. If this is not possible, entrust it to someone close to you when you go for a walk.
The best option for an allergy sufferer is to have no curtains at all or to replace them with metal curtains that are easy to dust.
Dust is well retained by mosquito nets and a special filter screen will protect you from pollen and other allergenic particles.
The less things that collect dust in the house (fur skins, carpets, canopies, curtains, souvenirs, figurines, books, soft toys), the better. It is advisable to keep things in special boxes or bags in the closets.
It is more appropriate to use synthetic fabrics in the interior: nylon, polyester, etc. They are more practical: they are not destroyed by light, they are resistant to changes in humidity, rot and high wear. Easy to care for: collects less dust, easy to wash and clean. And they themselves are not a source of dust and allergens. The most allergenic natural fabrics are wool and fur, as well as pile natural and artificial (viscose, acetate) materials.
Another risk factor is bedding as a potential habitat for dust mites, where waste products can cause serious allergies. Instead of the most allergenic filler - "feather", it is recommended to use hypoallergenic options: holofiber, bamboo, natural latex, etc.
There are special covers with locks that protect the beds from dust mites. It is best to change the bedding once a week and wash it at high temperature, and to clean the pillows at least once every six months.
Using a bunk bed is dangerous because the child sleeping below receives a double dose of "dust" allergens.
Mold control and prevention– is an important factor in hypoallergenic living, because mold fungi are second only to dust mites in the list of household allergens, and in most cases they move together.
If the air in the apartment is dry, more dust accumulates there and it becomes difficult to breathe, and if there is excessive humidity, it contributes to the reproduction of dust mites and molds.
Humidity in the home can be controlled using a special humidifier. "Folk" methods of humidification, especially in the heating season, include placing water containers in the apartment, hanging wet towels, first of all, on radiators. Having an aquarium or an indoor fountain in the apartment serves the same purpose. Indoor plants that require daily spraying (they should be hypoallergenic) also help to humidify the air.
House animals.Allergies are usually caused by pet waste (fur, dander, dander, secretion particles) and food (eg dry fish food). Allergens can remain in the room for more than 2 years from the moment when a cat, dog, hamster, parrot and other pets do not live there.
Hypoallergenic diet
The first rule of thumb for any allergy sufferer is to avoid contact with the allergen and take appropriate medication if unpleasant symptoms occur. In this case, adjusting the diet significantly improves the condition of an adult or a child.
Of course, if there is a food allergy confirmed by clinical diagnostic studies, the doctor prescribes a special diet. But there is also a non-specific hypoallergenic diet approved by doctors. It can be monitored regardless of the nature of the allergen (household, insect, drug, etc. ) to reduce the burden on the body and speed up the recovery process. Including atopic dermatitis, which often worsens in winter.
Prohibited products.According to the degree of allergenicity, all products can be divided into high, medium and low allergens.
First of all, it is necessary to exclude everything fried, smoked, salty and spicy. Also semi-finished meat and fish products - cutlets, sausages, fish burgers, sausages, etc. , because they contain many flavoring and aromatic additives, stabilizers. The preferred method of cooking when following a hypoallergenic diet: cooking, boiling, cooking with a minimum amount of fat. Instead of coffee, drink rose tea, weak tea and still water. To manage your diet, keep a food diary and write down everything you eat during the day.
Recommended foods |
Products to be excluded |
|---|---|
Dairy products and eggs.Goat's milk. Fermented dairy products (one day): kefir, acidophilus, matsoni, narin, cottage cheese (individual). Butter - 10-15 g for small children, 20-25 g for older children. (preferably processed) Not sharp cheese types. Hard-boiled yolk at least 1-2 times a week (individually). |
Non-fermented cow's milk (including dry and canned), skimmed milk, fermented cooked milk, cream, sour cream, baby cream cheese, processed cheese, sharp cheeses, spicy cheeses. Egg (including products containing it: mayonnaise, creams, sauces, some types of bread, sweets). If you are sensitive to mold fungi, exclude kefir, cottage cheese, muffins, kvass and moldy cheeses. |
Cereals and foods prepared from them. Buckwheat, pearl barley, oatmeal, corn, rice porridge (cooked in water). Pasta (1-2 times a week). To reduce allergenicity, it is recommended to soak cereals in cold water for 1-2 hours. |
Semolina and millet cereals, Artek cereals, wheat, rye. |
Vegetables (green or white).Potatoes (soaked for 10-12 hours). Cabbage (white, cauliflower, fresh). Parsley, dill, lettuce, zucchini, squash, fresh cucumbers (except greenhouse). Boiled carrots (individually). To reduce allergenicity, it is recommended to soak vegetables in cold water for 1-2 hours. |
Pumpkin, turnip, rutabaga, tomato, tomato sauce, radish, sunflower seeds; eggplant, peas, beans, green peas, celery, raw onion, sorrel, pickles, sauerkraut. |
Fruits, berries (light color).Green apple, plum, white and yellow cherry, white currant, green pear. Blueberries, blueberries, lingonberries, plums. Older children: corn, cranberries, bananas (individual). Peeled, refrigerated, cooked or compote fruits are less allergenic. |
Strawberries, wild strawberries, raspberries, currants (black, red), cherries. Peach, apricot, melon, date, grape, pineapple, mango, papaya, pomegranate, sea dog. Canned juices and compotes. Citrus fruits (orange, tangerine, lemon, kiwi, etc. ). |
Oils.Refined vegetable oil - up to 30 - 40 g (preferably corn or olive oil). |
Lard, animal fat, margarine. Fish (red and white, smoked and salted), canned fish. Caviar (red and black). Vinegar, mayonnaise, pepper, mustard, garlic, cinnamon, horseradish, salty foods. |
Bread.Bread with bran. White (sugar-free) and black (sugar-free) bread; simple dryers, crackers, crackers, diabetic cookies. For older children - homemade yeast pie without eggs, with plums or apples. Apple marmalade. Marshmallow (a small amount). |
Chocolate, chocolate candies, coffee, cocoa, cream cakes, rich baked bread and buns, Tula and honey gingerbread, marshmallows, ice cream. Nuts, halva, honey. |
Meat.Beef (steamed, boiled). Rabbit, turkey. Horse meat. Pork and lamb (lean). Specialized canned goods for children. During freezing and subsequent gradual thawing, soaking and long-term cooking, the allergenic activity of meat decreases. The meat of young animals is more allergenic. |
Chicken, duck, goose. Chicken, meat, fish, mushroom broths. Pork, lamb (fatty). Beef meat. Liver, kidneys. Mushrooms. Sausages, frankfurters, offal, sausages, ham, canned meat. If an allergy to cow's milk is detected, beef, veal and beef liver are excluded from the diet, because cow's milk protein has an antigenic affinity with cattle tissue products. |
Drinks. Black tea (leaf, sugar-free, flavor-free and without fruit additives). Still drink water. Juices (diluted 1/3 with boiled water) and compotes from dry fruits and fresh fruits and berries recommended above. |
Carbonated drinks. kvassCanned foods. Food additives (dyes, preservatives, emulsifiers, flavors). Chewing gum. |
In addition to a hypoallergenic diet, histamine-rich or histamine-releasing foods should be excluded from the diet of people suffering from food allergies.
Histamine rich foods:Pickled herring, strawberries, wild strawberries, peanuts, beans, game, brewer's yeast.
Histamine release agents:Sauerkraut, spinach, pork liver, dry smoked sausage, fermented cheeses, mayonnaise, vinegar.
It is recommended to follow a hypoallergenic diet for at least 7-10 days. And if there are no noticeable improvements at the end of this period, you should see a doctor and do a series of laboratory tests. They will help determine the true cause of the allergy and distinguish it from intolerance.
I hope this information will help you create a comfortable and safe living environment. Be healthy and take care of yourself!