FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Home is Where the Sneeze Is!
ACAAI Program Meets Need for Indoor Allergy Education
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill., September 9, 2008– With the fight for allergy prevention increasingly focused on the home, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) today launched HOME: Home Allergy Management for Everyone, a new program aimed at managing exposure to indoor allergens.
New survey results show that as many as 62 percent of patients are suffering from allergy symptoms caused by indoor allergens. The ACAAI’s program and its online resource, http://www.acaai.org/public/Home/HOME, focus on five easy-to-follow tips. The HOME program features room-by-room tips on reducing allergens indoors. Patients can also access information on different types of prominent indoor allergens, including dust mites, pet allergens and mold spores. The interactive Allergy Index Indoor Rating Tool offers customized information on how to manage exposure to allergens in the home. ACAAI developed this program with the support of a grant from the Clorox Company.
“Managing indoor allergens is crucial, but when we surveyed patients and ACAAI members, we saw the need first hand for indoor allergy education,” said ACAAI President Jay M. Portnoy, M.D., chief, Section of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology at Children’s Mercy Hospitals & Clinics in Kansas City, Mo. “We’ve designed a program that educates patients with need-to-know tips and convenient solutions. We hope this new resource makes a difference in how allergy patients and families manage allergens within their home.”
The Top Five Tips for Managing Indoor Allergens in the Home
The ACAAI recommends these simple steps for kicking allergens to the curb:
- Don’t Let Dust Get Too Comfortable! If you or someone in your household suffers from allergies, cleaning the home is incredibly important in managing exposure to indoor allergens. Steps like the regular use of a cyclonic vacuum or vacuum with a HEPA filter, washing items in hot water and mite-proof casings can help reduce indoor allergens.
- Couches, Curtains, and Cushions, Oh My! Allergens make themselves at home in fabrics throughout the house, like upholstered couches and chairs, bedding, carpets and more. If you can’t tear up the carpet or remove the curtains, look for cleaning products that will denature or deactivate dust mite matter and cat and dog dander in fabrics in the home.
- Kick the Habit! Do not smoke indoors at any time. This benefits everyone!
- When in Doubt, Air it Out! Clean and disinfect bathrooms, kitchens and basements regularly and keep them well ventilated to reduce the growth of mold. Always use exhaust fans and open windows when cooking or bathing.
- Keep Fido Allergy-Friendly! Cannot live without pets? Bathe them once a week to reduce dander – and whenever possible, keep your pet out of the bedroom.
What Allergy Sufferers Are Saying:
Allergic rhinitis (nasal allergies) affects an estimated 20 to 40 million people in the United States alone and the incidence is increasing. According to the most recent survey of allergy sufferers age 18-54 commissioned by ACAAI, more than one-third (41 percent) of people surveyed said they suffer from allergic rhinitis or allergic asthma. For people with allergies, seasonal allergies are just half the battle. In fact, a quarter of allergy sufferers say they often experience allergy symptoms at home. The survey also revealed:
· More than a third say other family members suffer from allergy symptoms at home.
· Allergy sufferers say they do not take steps to reduce indoor allergens because they require big changes, like restricting pets to certain rooms.
· Nearly a third of allergy sufferers said indoor allergies are an inconvenience.
· An additional 14 percent said indoor allergies are unpleasant or make it difficult to enjoy being at home.
What Allergists Are Saying:
In a recent survey, ACAAI allergists revealed there is a need for indoor allergy education.
· Seventy percent of ACAAI allergists surveyed say their patients ask for advice on how to manage indoor allergens quite a bit or all of the time.
· Nearly all (94 percent) of ACAAI allergists say the most appropriate treatment for indoor allergies is medication plus steps at home to reduce exposure to allergens.
· Sixty-two percent of ACAAI allergists surveyed said their patients suffer allergy symptoms caused by indoor allergens.
· ACAAI allergists (91 percent) cite the need for big changes, like restricting pets from the bedroom, as the most prevalent reason why allergy sufferers do not take steps to reduce indoor allergens.
“Home Allergy Management for Everyone will give people with allergies and their families practical information and tools to manage allergens in the home,” Dr. Portnoy said. “That’s what this program is about – educating and making a difference in the day-to-day life of someone working to manage their indoor allergy symptoms.”
The ACAAI brochure titled HOME: Home Allergy Management for Everyone is available on the ACAAI Web site http://www.acaai.org/public/Home/HOME or by calling (800) 842-7777.
About The American College of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology
The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) is a professional medical organization headquartered in Arlington Heights, Ill., that promotes excellence in the practice of the subspecialty of allergy and immunology. The College, comprising more than 5,000 allergists-immunologists and related health care professionals, fosters a culture of collaboration and congeniality in which its members work together and with others toward the common goals of patient care, education, advocacy and research.
About the Surveys
The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), commissioned Ipsos, a global market research company, to field two related surveys, the first exploring attitudes and experiences of allergy-suffering adults, and the second seeking the opinions of allergists. The results of the consumer survey are based on 509 online interviews with allergy-suffering adults 18 to 54 years of age from across the United States. Interviews were conducted June 25-30, 2008. With a sample of 509, one can say with 95% certainty that the overall results are within ± 4.3 percentage points of what they would have been had the entire population of allergy-suffering adults 18-54 been surveyed. The results of the professional survey are based on 328 online interviews with allergists who are members of ACAAI. Interviews were conducted June 25-July 8, 2008. With a sample of 328, one can say with 95% certainty that the overall results are within ± 5.2 percentage points of what they would have been had the entire membership of the ACAAI been surveyed. For both surveys, the margins of error will be larger for sub-groupings of the survey samples. Both surveys were supported by a grant from The Clorox Company.
# # #