Cat Allergies What To Do If You Are Allergic To Your Cat

Are you a cat owner who suspects that you may be allergic to pets?  If you do have a cat allergy, here are some tips.
One of the first things that you will want to do if you suspect that you are suffering, is to examine your symptoms.  Do you find yourself sneezing, with a runny nose, with nasal congestion, or postnasal drip when you are around your cat?  Do you sometimes develop a skin rash after close contact, or do you find it difficult to breath without wheezing?  If that is the case, you may also have a cat allergy.  If that is the case, an appointment with a health care provider is recommended..  A doctor can not only prescribe you medication, but  may be able to help you determine whether or not you truly have a pet allergy.

As for how you can seek relief, the best way is to remove your cat  from your home.  Unfortunately, this isn't so easy for many cat owners to do.  If you cannot find a good home for your cat , like with a trusted friend or family member, you do not need to worry.  There are still a number of steps that you can take to seek relief.

Not cuddling with your cat  is a great way to reduce you symptoms .  Close contact with a cat is one of the many ways that skin rashes, like those that resemble an eczema outbreak, develop.  As hard as it can be to love and appreciate your animals from afar, you may need to do so, especially if your allergy symptoms are severe.
In addition to not cuddling with your cat, it is also advised that you keep them off  your furniture.  This includes your beds, reclining chairs, or couches.  This is particularly important if you  lie down or nap on your living room furniture.  Covers are a nice alternative.  Should you choose to use cloth covers, be sure to wash them every few days or whenever you notice a large accumulation of cat hair.

Another tip involves keep your cat  out of your bedroom.   Keep your cat off your bed.  This can help you sleep better at night.  But, just keeping your cat  out of your room in general is the best approach.  This is likely to result in relief, as the bedroom is one of the most common rooms in the home that we use. Therefore, it is where you want to seek relief the most.

Vacuuming as much as possible is another great way to limit the number allergy symptoms that you may have due to your pet.  Vacuuming can help to pick up some of the pet hair and pet dander that may be in your home. Vacuum cleaners that use HEPA filters come highly rated and recommended.  There are now also a number of vacuum cleaners that are marketed towards pet owners.  You may want to give these types of vacuum cleaners a close look. An air purifier can also be used and should be used if you are allergic to your cat.  All air purifiers remove potentially harmful particles from the air.  This includes pet dander.  If you have a cat allergy, the removal of pet dander from the air can be a great source of relief.  You can research and find air purifiers that are marketed towards those who suffer form allergies online.  As with vacuum cleaners, air purifiers that use HEPA technology, often produce the best results.

Paints and Solvents.....Recognizing these Pollutants as Health Concerns

Even though the "volatile organic compound" (VOC) levels in paints  products sold in the United States have been reduced to help control pollution, concentrations levels may still be high enough to pose potential health threats. All organic solvents are toxic in different degrees. It is due to  the useful properties of organic solvents that magnify their hazard. Because they are volatile, there is chance of  inhalation, or the gases or vapors can dissolve many things, they can also be absorbed through your skin. They may cause you a  minor  problem such as a skin rash or, if you swallow them, they may be fatal.

Be sure to read the warning label!
In order for you to reduce the risk to your health, select the least toxic product available for the job.

Least Toxic: Water based (latex). Check that mercury is not included as an additive to prevent mildew.

Moderately Toxic: Many of these ingredients are found in spray paints, paint removers and lacquers. All are highly flammable. methyl alcohol acetone isopropyl alcohol ethyl alcohol ethyl acetate methyl ethyl ketone.

Most Toxic: The following are known as aromatic or chlorinated hydrocarbons. They can be absorbed through the skin and therefore enter the bloodstream more easily than through inhalation only.

Learn to recognize the warning signs of exposure to organic solvents so that you don’t become a victim of poisoning.  Strong effects that might occur during or immediately after you've been exposed to the chemical might include:  irritability, nervousness, depression, irregular heartbeat, weakness, skin redness, watery eyes,  nausea, headaches, or itching.  Residual or long-term effects  from frequent or prolonged exposure to organic solvents have not been thoroughly researched.  Increased risk from exposure may cause permanent damage to liver, kidneys, bone marrow, and central nervous system.

Reading "WARNING" labels on Hazardous Chemical Containers

To reduce the risk to your health, select the least toxic product available for the job.

Least Toxic: Water based (latex). Check that mercury is not included as an additive to prevent mildew.
Moderately Toxic: Many of these ingredients are found in spray paints, paint removers and lacquers. All are highly flammable. methyl alcohol acetone isopropyl alcohol ethyl alcohol ethyl acetate methyl ethyl ketone.
Most Toxic: The following are known as aromatic or chlorinated hydrocarbons. They can be absorbed through the skin and therefore enter the bloodstream more easily than through inhalation only.
Benzene: a carcinogen which causes aplastic anemia (damaged bone marrow), and leukemia, and a probable tetatogen (causes birth defects).
Toluene: a probable mutagen (causes inherited changes in gene structure) and teratogen.
Xylene: a probable teratogen.
Methylene Chloride (dichloromethane): a probable carcinogen. Inhalation of vapors increases carbon monoxide levels in blood, reducing oxygen supply to vital organs. Other potential effects include damage to central nervous system or skin burns. It decompresses in the presence of flame or heat into highly toxic phosgene gas.