5 Ways to Reduce Asthma & Allergy Symptoms in Your Home

According to Asthma & Lung UK, 20% of households in the UK have an asthma sufferer living in the house and Allergy UK estimates that up to 21 million people suffer from allergies.

If you or a family member suffer from allergies or asthma, your home could be a source of irritation.

Many people assume that asthma and allergies are only triggered outdoors, but indoor environments can be just as problematic, if not worse.

Airborne allergens can become embedded in carpets, bedding and other soft furnishings, leading to flare ups.

Common indoor triggers of asthma and allergies include:

• Dust mites
• Pollen
• Pet dander
• Mould spores

If not managed properly, these allergens can cause a number of unpleasant symptoms.

Knowing the symptoms of asthma and allergies can help identify when a flare up is taking place.

Asthma primarily affects the respiratory system, while allergies can cause a range of annoying symptoms.

Asthma Symptoms:

• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Breathlessness
• A tight chest

Allergy Symptoms:

• Sneezing
• Itchy or runny nose
• Nasal congestion (stuffy or blocked nose)
• Itchy or watery eyes
• Cough
• Sore or itchy throat

In some cases, allergies are linked to asthma attacks - this is known as allergic asthma.

By reducing indoor allergens, you can create a healthier living space, with fewer asthma or allergy flare ups. Here are our top 5 tips to help reduce asthma and allergy symptoms in the home:

1. Keep furniture and fittings allergen free

Indoor furniture and fittings can act as a trap for allergens when made from certain materials. When buying your next sofa, opt for fabrics that are easy to clean such as leather. For flooring options, use the same principal and choose hard flooring such as tiles or wood where harbouring allergens are not as prominent.

2. Keep your pets clean and well groomed

You don’t have to get rid of your furry friends, but you might want to consider keeping them away from living areas to avoid animal dander (that’s little particles of protein found in animals’ skin) from getting into the air. If your pets are kept indoors, make sure they are groomed and bathed regularly to minimise the impact.

3. Provide adequate ventilation

Without proper ventilation, indoor air can become moist and stale, creating the perfect environment for allergens like mould spores and dust mites to thrive. Good ventilation helps control humidity, remove airborne pollutants, and improve overall air quality. Opening windows regularly, using extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms, and investing in a Mechanical Ventilation System can all help to ensure a continuous flow of fresh air, reducing the risk of asthma and allergy flare-ups.

4. Sleep tight – dust free!

Tiny dust mites are common on mattresses, bedding and most soft coverings, and act as a trigger for asthma and allergy symptoms. As you spend much of your time in bed it makes sense to keep these furnishings as dust free as possible. Consider a good plastic mattress cover or even vacuum your mattress regularly to help remove allergens.

5. Check how clean your cleaning products are

Household cleaning products, especially aerosols and sprays, can leave chemical toxins lingering in the air which act as irritants for asthma sufferers. Consider using natural non-toxic substances to help reduce your asthma symptoms.

The best way to alleviate asthma & allergy symptoms in the home is by removing household allergens such as dust mites, pet dander, pollen and mould.

A Beam Central Vacuum System and Heat Recovery Ventilation (MVHR) System work together to keep allergens at bay. 

A Beam Central Vacuum is a whole house system built into the walls of your home during construction. With up to 5 times more power than portable vacuums, it removes 100% of dust and dirt from living areas, and is clinically proven to provide measurable relief for asthma & allergy sufferers.

As the vacuum power unit is typically located in a garage or utility room, all waste is removed from the point of cleaning, with no recirculating of dust and dirt in livings areas.

Beam power units utilise an exclusive permanent self-cleaning filtration material from the makers of Gore-Tex fabric. By using cyclonic forces to separate larger dirt particles and allergens from vacuumed air, the permanent filters them removes the remaining particles at 98% efficiency at 0.3 microns. The Beam self-cleaning filters cleans itself every time the system is turned off.

Beam's Central Vacuum System includes various brushes designed for cleaning all surfaces in your home. 

• Dusting brush – gently vacuum fixtures and furniture to remove build-up of dust
• Upholstery brush – remove dust mites from mattresses, sofas and other soft furnishings
• Premium combi floor tool – ensure dust, pet dander and other allergens are effectively vacuumed from both carpeted and hard floors
• Pet grooming brush - the soft bristles and specialist design make this the perfect tool for removing loose fur & dander. Plus, a Beam Central Vacuum System is so quiet it won't scare your pet!

Opening windows can let in fresh air, but it also brings in allergens and pollutants

MVHR systems offer clean, fresh, filtered air throughout the home without having to open windows. Simultaneously, moist, stale air is extracted from all wetrooms and rooms that have moisture build-up, such as the kitchen and utility room. This helps reduce condensation and prevents mould growth, which is harmful to people with asthma and allergies.

BEAM Axco Counterflow Heat Recovery Systems use G4 filters to remove pollutants from incoming air and BEAM’s Axco Heru Heat Recovery Ventilation System features F7 Pollen filters. 

F7 filters are the highest grade of specification available for a ventilation system. This large surface long-life F7 double protection filter on both incoming and extracted air (unique to BEAM!) traps the pollen twice to ensure no pollen particles manage to escape through to your home. 

Both the G4 and F7 filters are excellent at ensuring no pollutants or insects will pass through into the home, and this constant, fresh, filtered air will help reduce exposure to allergens for those affected by asthma & allergies.

Combining a BEAM Central Vacuum and Heat Recovery Ventilation System greatly improves indoor air quality and reduces allergens. With fewer asthma and allergy triggers present, you and your family can breathe easier, experience fewer flare-ups, and enjoy a healthier, more comfortable living environment. 

Investing in long-term solutions for allergen control not only enhances daily well-being but also contributes to better respiratory health over time.