Allergies and air conditioning

Our family as a whole has never really been prone to allergies, so we don't have a lot of experience with this. (I've acquired more as I've gotten older). I've watched my best friend's family battle asthma, cat dander, and all that good stuff, so that's usually the closest I've come.

I can tell you this, however. Years ago I was living with my Gma and did not have a/c (after already being used to having it). One week (about this time of year), my eyes were terribly itchy and red and gooey. There was pinkeye going around the elementary schools at that time, so I assumed that's what it was and went to see the doctor. He, however, diagnosed it as being an allergy--he said the grass pollenates this time of year and that's what it was.

It happened again the next year, but then the following year I had a/c in my bedroom. Sleeping with the windows closed seemed to be all I needed to keep it at bay.

Logic tells me that no matter which part of your body is affected by pollens and that sort of thing, if the a/c filters it out, then it's worth it. Maybe you can borrow a window unit from someone to try in his room first, before investing in central air--although now that we have central air--believe me, your whole family will love it!

That's my limited experience and two cents.
Good luck, and let us know how he is doing!
Love,
Jul

I know they make super-fine a/c filters that help filter out allergens. You can also get an air purifier unit to do the same thing in his room, I suppose.

He has allergies and they never open their windows,,,only have the AC on. He says it is a huge difference.

I myself like the air on only if it is very humid or over 86 degrees or so. I like the windows open,,,,but I don't have allergies to the things that fly. I am bothered by pines trees and sitting in the grass.

Hi. My son has asthma and seasonal allergies. We purchased an air purifier. Within a couple days he was much improved!

Recently, I lent my unit to a friend who has asthma. After having the unit out of his room for a couple days... he started wheezing again and needing to use his inhaler.

So, I know that this unit is making a huge difference to him.

Here's what we got.
http://www.healthylivingconnection.com/breathbetter.asp

Hope you find something that helps!

My whole family has allergies. The allergy doctor recommends using the a/c in the house and car. And we no longer hang clothes on the line to dry especially sheets. This seems to have helped quite a bit.

I had allergies along with my son. We now own a air purifer. It works wonders. You might want to check with your doctor though, each case is different. I do know after speaking to a professional doctor about air purifers he said, to never buy a purifer with filters. He recommended Alpine Air purifers. No filters. I purchased 1 and wow, what a difference. I have many friends that purchase these and retail them for a very good price.

Interesting to see this thread pulled up!

We did get the AC late last summer - we will see if it works this spring and summer!

Andrea

Singapore has the WORST indoor air quality in the world. I'm not being mean, but apparently it has. I started getting bad rhinitis about 4yrs ago.

Of course the word 'allergies' is used very broadly, and it really depends on what you're allergic to. Some people are allergic to everything, while others might be allergic only to outdoor allergens like pollen, and yet others be sensitive to indoor allergens like dust mites and pet dander.

I think the air purifier IS a good idea. I'm not convinced that air-con is, unless you know that the troublesome allergens are the outdoor type and it's just one way in which you will keep the outdoor stuff from coming inside. Air-con can CAUSE trouble. I'm fairly sure it's largely responsible for my problems, and I'm hoping most of the problems will go away when we move back to the UK, although I understand that once you've developed sensitivity you never really lose it.

I hope it helps in your case Andrea, but if it doesn't I would get certainly make sure you know what specific allergens are causing the problems before you spend any more money on trying to fix it. I think the only reason air-con would help is if it's stopping you from opening the windows, and it's outdoor allergens that are the problem. Otherwise it could make things worse. I know in my case I can be sneezing for hours from the time I wake up and the moment I go outside it's fine - Singapore's outdoor air quality is actually better than the indoor air quality, which is unheard of in cities!!

If moving back to the UK doesn't get rid of the rhinitis I will definitely be considering an air purifier, but I saw the price on those Alpine ones, and I know I'll have to try without first!

Good luck Andrea - hope it works for your son. If not, get him to an allergy specialist pronto to find out exactly what's causing the problems.

Kerri.

Think about what you are cleaning with also. I try to use only basic supplies like bleach, vinegar, ammonia, baking soda, etc. The Home Comforts book has good cleaning recipes and information on what is OK to mix and what is not. Plus it's cheaper which might help in a small way toward your ac expense (rationalizing here . Although I suppose some ac units would filter the indoor air and outdoor air, so that might help. I just have first-hand experience with indoor pollution. Early in my marriage I used lysol and my hubby sneezed half the day. Ever since it's been homemade cleaners here. One other source of indoor air pollution might be the very materials your home is built out of. I wouldn't know how to help you there. Good luck with that. ~Tiffany

My mom uses that exact air purifier, shakleemom. I gather you sell them. She is a shaklee member too, but it was still expensive. However, it does sort of help to keep my cat allergies at bay (still get very stuffy and sneeze), which is nice since I hate to take medicine just to visit my mom.

What I was wondering was whether it is true that the purifiers give off ozone. My hubby told me this and if it is true I don't think I would ever buy one. ~Tiffany

My son's allergies are very seasonal in nature, except for cats! So I think the a/c should really help, we noticed a big improvement last fall already. He also started taking Singulair as a preventive med, just in spring/summer/fall when we needed it - it was like a miracle had occurred! I would highly recommend this medicine (with doc's approval of course) - it helped 100X more than anything else had tried. One chewable tablet in the evening, no side effects. Maybe an air purifier would help too though, thanks for all the advice everyone.

My hubby made it sound dangerous to have a purifier giving off ozone in a home. Now I feel a little smarter and safer. I appreciate you taking the time to answer my question. I didn't want to say anything to my mom until I was sure. Actually I think DH got his "earth-shattering" info off the home shopping network, therefore it's no wonder it was sensationalist. Thanks for setting me straight. ~Tiffany

Since I purchased an air conditioner three weeks ago I've had a cough. It's a violent cough that causes me to vomit. I am wondering if I'm allergic to some fumes it may be giving off. I have to go into another room that is not being conditioned for relief. The doctor say there is nothing wrong with me but I cannot explain the coughing. She even did a chest X-ray and checked for a bronchial infection. Nothing! Some people are allergic to everything and I'm not a person who has allergies. Is it possible for a person to have an allergic reaction to a room air conditioner?

There are several different kids of nasties that will happily live in air conditioners and can make us cough or otherwise sick, including those that cause Legionnaires’ disease, though that is an extreme example.

I'm not aware of any "fumes" given off by an air conditioners though.

__________

Of all the wonders of nature, a tree in summer is perhaps the most remarkable; with the possible exception of a moose singing "Embraceable You" in spats.

-- Woody Allen

Hi there, I know you guys have had this written up a while
ago but every time I was at work it felt like I had a fever.
I thought it was because I knew I didn't want to be at work?
I went to the doctors with a fever and itchy ear, soar throat,
feeling like crap, very tired, doc was so cocky that he was convinced that I was coming down with the flu. I woke up the next day and I was fine! Moral to the story is that if you have allergies and if you sit under an air conditioner vent or if you are in air con environment you are going to have problems.
Even my partner had the same problem.
Hope that solves the problem.