REEis in Phoenix Woman Magazine

Allergy Relief: Drug-Free Solutions

REMEDIES IN THE AIR
by Joy Corland

It has been an incredibly wet and soggy winter for us in the Valley of the sun. On the bright side, all of that rain has given us an amazingly colorful spring. The lush, green mountains and wild flowers have been so picturesque.

Unfortunately, for many residents, all that beauty can wreck havoc on the body by way of allergy attacks. If this years allergy triggers seem more intense to you, you’re not alone. But help is on the way. Phoenix Woman magazine asked several experts to come together to offer their opinions, advice, suggestions and drug-free remedies to help you finally find some relief.

When it’s 115 degrees outside and you are sweating bullets upon returning to your “too-warm-for-comfort” home, you don’t hesitate for a second—you turn on your air conditioning. But the moment you do, you may be unknowingly breathing allergen-rich air, aggravating allergies and stirring up dust that you didn’t even know you had.

Many people don’t realize that leaks exist in most homes, and it’s the air conditioning system that’s at the root of a home’s indoor air quality. “Whenever your AC system turns on, it creates a vacuum effect designed to circulate the air through the air handler,” says Todd Russo of Residential Energy Efficiency Improvement Specialists (REEIS). “The attic space is an extremely polluted environment that is very unhealthy,” he adds.

Naturopathic physician, Dr. Phil Wazny, who practices in Scottsdale and Ahwatukee with Integrative HealthCare, says 80 percent of his patients suffer from mild to severe allergy symptoms. “Allergies, at their most severe, can cause disruptions to people’s sleep with post nasal drip and congestion, and because sleep is a major foundation when it comes to health, this is a significant side effect,” says Dr. Wazny. “Disrupted sleep or a lack of sleep can lower your immune system and increase the propensity for other diseases.”

Extended exposure to allergens, like those which may be in constant circulation in your home, can cause serious problems. “People who have allergies over longer periods of time can suffer from nasal polyps, increased risk of respiratory infections, asthma and pneumonia,” says Dr. Wazny.

He also says long-term exposure can cause hyper-sensitivity leading to auto-immune conditions because the immune system is constantly trying to fight off the environment. Dr. Wazny advises removing as many of the allergens as possible. “For those with severe allergies, working to eliminate allergies in the home helps sufferers; it can have dramatic effects,” he says.

Some companies provide duct sealing services to help clean the air as much as possible. REEIS takes it a step further by offering home energy audits to determine where air leaks exist, including doorways, attics, recessed lights and windows. These services can help provide some relief and may be worth looking into.
REEISHome.com
IntegrativeHealthCare.com

Joy Corland is a freelance writer and mother of two who resides in Scottsdale.

Signs You May Have Allergens in Your Home