Allergy-prone. Asthmatic. Insomniac. Stressed. Generally unhealthy and unhappy.
Sounds pleasant, no? The words and phrases above reference a way of life—not a desirable one, mind you—but one that I endured for quite some time this past year. The ironic part? It was completely avoidable.
The story begins when I, as well as four other college seniors, moved into an off-campus house to begin our final year of undergraduate studies. Upon move-in we were greeted by the quintessential college abode: mold, pests, unpainted walls, and unclean floors. Of course, we did what any average male college students would do and moved right in with no questions asked. We obviously cleaned up and made the place pass for respectable, but at that moment “the sickness” had begun to spread.
Within a month, I found it impossible to continue the active lifestyle I had once enjoyed. Constantly tired due to not being able to breathe and sleep soundly in my own home, I became a wreck of a person. My grades dropped, my stress level skyrocketed, and my roommates and I were oblivious as to what was happening.
We were so naive.
By chance, I was offered a free allergy screening through a class at the University of Florida, and within 15 minutes of sitting down next to an attractive young nurse, my nightmare of a semester became much more clear.
I had become the victim of nearly 20 allergens, many of which were taking refuge in my very own house. The beauty of this was, the angel of a nurse administering the allergy test had a list of quick fixes that she assured me would turn my life around, and they certainly did.
1. Invest in an air purifier. For under $100 a simple air purifier will help to filter out many of the contaminants in the air you breathe. Air purifiers are extremely beneficial to asthmatics and those suffering from allergies, especially if you often find yourself around individuals who smoke.
2. Give your house a deep clean. No one necessarily enjoys cleaning their home, but it is the best way to unearth the source of those nasty mold spores that are feasting on the weaknesses of your immune system. Places of high moisture and poor ventilation are often the culprit, and a thorough sanitizing could do wonders. However, if you feel there is a serious mold problem you should not hesitate to contact a professional to conduct a thorough inspection.
3. Wash your sheets and blankets. Your bed sheets and pillow cases should be washed once per week, with your blanket/comforter being washed every two weeks. As an extra measure, I even went as far as purchasing a hypoallergenic mattress protector.
4. VISIT YOUR PHYSICIAN. The single most important tip is to pay a visit to your physician in the event you feel off-color in any way. My Achilles’ Heel was my stubbornness and refusal to think I could not help myself, and I learned my lesson the hard way.
Following this simple advice has made all the difference in my well-being. Within two months I have regained my health and got back to an active and fulfilling life for which I have a new found fondness.
Active. Secure. Rested. Relaxed. Generally healthy and happy.
The words and phrases above reference a way of life—a very desirable one, mind you—that every person deserves to enjoy.
