Trying to Catch Your Breath?
It's spring! The weather is warmer, the sun is shining, flowers are blooming — and the pollen count is on the rise. Pollen causes allergies and a host of uncomfortable symptoms, such as sneezing, coughing, runny nose, scratchy throat and watery eyes. Allergies can be more than inconvenient or unpleasant; they can lead to serious respiratory problems such as asthma.
Allergies — Cause and EffectAccording to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) allergies are diseases of the immune system that cause an overreaction to substances called allergens, which trigger the body's response. There are various categories of allergies, based on the kind of trigger, the time of year for the occurrence and whether the occurrence takes place indoors or outdoors. Allergies also can be caused by foods, drugs, latex and insect bites, You can experience skin allergies or eye allergies. Read more about allergies.
Allergies should not be ignored. In some cases, certain types of allergens can trigger asthma attacks, otherwise known as allergic asthma. According to the AAFA allergic asthma is the most common form of asthma, affecting 50 percent of the 20 million asthma sufferers in the U.S.
Asthma in America
Asthma is a disease of the lungs in which the airways become blocked or narrowed causing breathing difficulty.
Asthma is a serious medical condition that can result in emergency room treatment and even death.
According to AAFA:
- Over 14 million children missed a day of school due to asthma
- Each year, asthma causes 2 million emergency room visits
- The annual cost of asthma is estimated to be nearly $18 billion
- Every day 30,000 people have an asthma attack
- There are 5,000 deaths annually due to asthma
Our products can help
Particles in the air of your home can be triggers for asthma and allergies. The new air-cleaning technology available in Trane CleanEffects™ and American Standard AccuClean™ is 99.98 percent effective at removing allergens and other particles from the air. It's 100 times more effective than a typical 1-inch filter in a home heating and cooling system, and eight times more effective than even the best HEPA filter systems. If you have friends or family members who suffer from allergies or asthma, tell them aboutTrane CleanEffects™ and American Standard AccuClean™. You can learn more about these products in our Clean Air Ambassador site on MyStandard.
Food can also trigger an allergic reaction in some people. Serious food allergies are rare with only 1 to 2 percent of Americans experiencing a reaction known as anaphylaxis. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include:
- Tingling sensation in the mouth
- Swelling of the tongue and throat
- Difficulty breathing
- Hives
- Vomiting
- Abdominal cramps
- Diarrhea
- Drop in blood pressure
Read more on what to do if you encounter this problem.