Tuesday, May 17, 2011

HEALTH TIP OF THE DAY--IS THERE AN ALLERGEN IN THE HOUSE?


It’s spring, and many of us have lived with puffy eyes, runny noses, and scratchy throats ever since the buds started popping outside. But did you know there are allergy triggers hiding in your home all year round? Health editor Janice Kerr is here today to tell us about one you probably never thought of and how to deal with it. -- AP

Thanks, Anastasia! For those of you with young children or teenage girls who fill there rooms with stuffed animals, did you know that those stuffed animals harbor millions of dust mites? Yuck, right? Dust mites are one of the most common allergens.

So what do you do? No one expects you to toss out your toddler’s favorite teddy and risk a lifetime of shrink visits. Luckily, there’s a simple solution. Put teddy in the freezer for 24 hours every two weeks to kill those nasty critters. If even 24 hours are too long to be teddyless, You can run teddy through the washing machine in 140 degree water. Both freezing and hot water will kill dust mites.

Thanks, Janice! Wish I’d known about this back when my kids were little. -- AP

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