Special mattress pads, allergen-reducing fabric sprays, air filters, and so forth ... if you have asthma you may have invested lots of money in products such as these. Dust mites can be a big asthma trigger, and trying to minimize them is a good way to reduce asthma episodes. But a research group has determined that many of the special efforts people take to reduce allergens and dust mites aren't effective enough to make a difference.

Previous studies have reviewed both physical and chemical allergen reducers. The research group reviewed 54 studies. They found that, while many products were ineffective, others did reduce allergens as advertised -- but not enough to ward off an asthma attack.

If you currently own special products such as fancy vacuum cleaners, air filters, and mattress pads, feel free to keep using them. Many do reduce allergens, though they aren't effective enough to make much of a difference. A good habit to get into is washing sheets, blankets, and pillows often using high temperatures. Also, remove soft toys from your child's bed.

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They say that indoor air can be significantly more polluted than outdoor air, especially in newer homes where windows and doors are tightly sealed. Using a HEPA filter can reduce indoor air pollution by removing small particles from the air, like dust, mold, and pet dander.

But recent research also suggests that using a HEPA filter may also improve heart health. Non-smoking elderly participants ran HEPA filters in their homes for 48 hours, and doing so improved the function of small blood vessels. There are small blood vessels that also feed the heart.

When I bought filters for two of the bedrooms in our home, I didn't realize until months later when I went to change the filters that I'd bought "HEPA-like" filters. These do not remove the very fine particles in the air like cat dander so, if you're going to buy a HEPA filter, make sure you read the packaging carefully!

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Suffer from seasonal allergies? Many of us actually have a break during the winter season since the air i barren from pollen, mold, cottonwood fluff and other springtime air irritants that can cause our respiratory systems to go into big-time defense mode.

But then again, inside air irritants like pet dander, dust mites and smoke residue can even pollute the inside of our homes. What to do? If you've considered an air filter system or air purifiers, you're not alone.

I use one of these myself and the way it changes the air quality inside a home can be downright addictive. Even if you don't have a huge amount of pollutants inside your home (trust me -- you do), an air purifier can be a wise investment. The thing is to do your due diligence research before purchasing one.

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