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Seniors and Asthma
Pets and allergies: minimizing the reaction Almost 70% of U.S. households have one or more domestic pets, equally divided between cats and dogs, accounting for 100 million pets. Americans form strong attachments to their pets, including the millions of older adults in the country who enjoy their pets' comfort and companionship. Although pets can help alleviate "empty nest syndrome," older adults who are among the almost 10 million pet owners who are allergic to their animals must take extra precautions when opening their homes to a furry friend. Allergic owners suffer from reactions to their pet's dander, skin flakes, saliva and urine. Hair or fur also can collect pollens, mold spores and other outdoor allergens. A recent Japanese study found that one in four patients with pet allergies continue to keep a pet despite allergy- and asthma-related problems. In addition, the study indicated approximately 80 percent of the pet owners surveyed kept their pets inside the home most of the time. These findings may explain why allergy symptoms, such as itchy and watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, wheezing and hives in allergic children and adults, worsen with continued exposure to pets. The presence of allergic dander in cats and dogs is not affected by length of hair or fur, and there are no truly "hypoallergenic breeds." According to another study I conducted at The Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn, NY, the color of a cat's hair may influence true allergic symptoms in people exposed to the dander. Preliminary data from a self-administered questionnaire of 400 households with pet cats indicated a significantly greater amount of allergy-related symptoms (such as sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes and itchy skin) with exposure to dark cat hair. As expected, the severity of allergy symptoms also was greater in owners who permitted their pets unlimited access to the bedroom. Keeping animals outdoors is only a temporary solution since pet dander will eventually accumulate in the house, carried inside on clothing. Even the type of clothing worn can affect the transportation of pet dander. A recent study at the University of Sydney found people who wore wool sweaters were exposed to more than 10 times the amount of cat dander than individuals wearing no upper body clothing. People who wore freshly washed T-shirts were exposed to the least amount of cat dander. Researchers also found cat dander levels on non-cat owners' clothing increased at the end of the workday due to an individual's exposure to coworkers who own cats. Taking Control Because pet dander is quite light and buoyant, and floats freely in the indoor air, electrostatic or HEPA air cleaners can be a big help in removing unwanted allergenic particles, especially cat dander. The size of the space determines the size filter necessary, and units are available as tabletop models or can be adapted to central air conditioning systems. Placing a screen or filter over room vents may keep dander from traveling through the heating and air conditioning system. Bear in mind that it may take six months or more to completely rid the home of cat dander particles even after the pet is removed. There are a variety of other measures that can be utilized to minimize contact with pet allergens:
Clifford W. Bassett, MD, is a Fellow of the AAAAI and Vice Chair of the AAAAI Public Education Committee, and is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at The Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn, NY and a Clinical Instructor at NYU School of Medicine. |
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