Spring Health starts in the pages of NEWSWEEK and expands once it's online. Explore general health topics accurately and entertainingly, from breakthroughs in research to the latest thinking from experts on allergies, men's health, the heart, COPD, sleep and more.
  • Find out what allergens you’re sensitive to through allergy testing. “If you know what exposures are triggering problems, and you know where they are located indoors, you can focus on them at home,” says William S. Beckett, M.D., professor of environmental medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.

  • Wash sheets weekly in hot (130°F) water and place impermeable dust covers on mattress and pillows to keep dust mites under control, suggests Beth Eve Corn, M.D., president of the New York Asthma and Allergy Society.

  • Avoid cats and dogs, if you can, or at least avoid sleeping with your pet.

  • If molds are a problem, wash moldy surfaces in a weak bleach solution, fix leaking pipes and install dehumidifiers where necessary.

  • Never leave food or garbage out, which attracts cockroaches, and store food in airtight containers. Avoid using liquid or spray pesticides, since they can cause problems in people with asthma.

  • Avoid cigarettes and ask smokers not to light up in your home.

  • Let new furniture air out for a few days before bringing it inside. Ask salespeople to unroll and air out new carpets for a day before delivering them to your home; install them when you can keep your windows open for two or three days afterwards. Ask for building products made with nontoxic materials and chemicals.
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    The organizations and individuals featured in Spring Health do not endorse the commercial sponsors. Editor Elinor Nauen | Design Segal Savad Design