Allergy Induced Asthma and Your HVAC

The ever-present tissue to dab the runny nose and the eyes that are so puffy they look like someone who has gone three rounds with Sugar Ray Leonard are telltale evidence of allergies, but those symptoms are minor compared to the dangers of allergy induced asthma.  Often caused by the same triggers that cause hay fever, allergy induced asthma includes symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness, which are much more serious than a dripping nose or watering eyes.  This fact alone is good reason for a comfort maintenance plan for your HVAC system, which may be your best defense against those tiny invaders that bring on those allergies. What is Allergy Induced Asthma? An allergic response is caused when the immune system detects a normally harmless intruder, like the lowly dust mite, as the enemy.  The immune system, with all the subtly of a Sherman tank, attacks the poor dust mite by producing histamines in an attempt to get it out of your system.  The fact is, the dust mite would probably have eventually gone willingly, with little or no force, but the immune system sends all its power to the area where the mite invades, causing nasal congestion, runny noses, itchy eyes and the occasional skin rash in an effort to get rid of the culprit quickly.  The result is that the person whose immune system has seriously overreacted is even more miserable than if the body would simply let the dust mite exit quietly without fanfare. In most cases, the histamines hang out in the nose, eyes or on the skin until the allergen gets the message to take off.  In allergy induced asthma, the histamines decide to launch the attack in the bronchial passages and lungs, making it difficult for the person to breathe—which is actually not a wise idea even for the immune system, as lack of breathing leads to far more dangerous problems. Treating Allergy Induced Asthma There are methods to treat allergy induced asthma, including corticosteroid inhalers and the use of antihistamines (sort of the counter-offensive against the immune system Sherman tank).  However, the best way to prevent allergy induced asthma is through a comfort maintenance plan to allow your HVAC system to be that Sherman tank instead.  A good HVAC system includes air filters designed to keep those dust mites, mold spores, and pet dander outside the home. Indoor Air Quality Many people are unaware that the HVAC system does more than heat and cool the home.  A high quality air purification system, like those installed by Spencer Air Conditioning, are specifically designed to keep the bad things out and the good things in, and that includes allergens that may lead to allergy induced asthma.  However, without a comfort maintenance plan and regular attention to your HVAC system, those pesky little dust mites and mold spores will slip under the radar and into your home easily. To learn more about how our comfort maintenance plan can protect your family from allergy induced asthma and other illnesses, visit our website and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.