Asthma sufferers tend to spend more time indoors to avoid allergens. But according to the EPA, indoor pollution exacerbates asthma just as much as outdoor air pollution, and that includes allergens from pets. Here is information on how pets damage indoor air quality in Theodore, AL.
How Do Pets Affect Asthma Sufferers?
The concentration of certain pollutants is 2-5 times greater indoors, according to the EPA. One of those pollutants is pet dander. But people who have asthma attacks because they’re allergic to pet dander are not actually sensitive to the fur but to certain proteins in the saliva on the fur and in the skin cells (dandruff).
How Pets Affect Indoor Air Quality
If your dogs are indoors-only pets or alternate between being indoors and outdoors, they’ll do more or less shedding depending on the breed and how regularly you groom them. “Allergy-friendly” dog breeds are more tolerable for people who are allergic to pet dander, but they’re not 100% hypoallergenic, according to the AKC.
The same is also true for “allergy-friendly” cat breeds. Even rodents are not hypoallergenic, although they have much smaller skin cells.
According to the American Lung Association, some pet dander sheds on the floor or lands on nearby surfaces. However, the rest of it stays suspended in the air, which causes issues with indoor air quality and triggers respiratory issues in people who are sensitive to it.
How to Improve Indoor Air Quality
Even the most fastidious cleaning of furniture and floors and not allowing pets on furniture or in bedrooms cannot get rid of pet dander in the air. Fortunately, there’s a solution for people for whom suspended pet dander causes asthma attacks.
Air purifiers eliminate many tiny airborne particles from your environment to greatly improve indoor air quality. An air purifier works through your HVAC system to give you better, fresher air throughout your whole home.
Don’t let the discomfort of pet dander ruin your joy of pets in Theodore, AL. We can help you choose an air purifier that’s right for your needs. Call us to learn how our indoor air quality services at Air Specialty can help pet owners breathe easier.
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