Q. My sister is highly allergic to cats. I have an indoor cat, so when my sister comes to visit she is miserable. I vacuum before and during her visit but she still suffers.
Is there anything she could take before she comes that would help make her stay more enjoyable? How can I make it more comfortable for us all?
A. This sounds counter-intuitive, but vacuuming during your sister’s visit may actually make her symptoms worse. Some vacuum cleaners actually spew small particles into the air and make the environment more allergenic.
The next time you shop for a vacuum cleaner, why not consult Consumer Reports (Oct. 2007)? The magazine’s experts chose the following upright machines as good values for picking up tiny allergy-causing particles: Kenmore (Sears) Progressive 35922, Eureka Boss Smart Vac Ultra 4870, Hoover Tempo Widepath U5140-900. In canister-style vacuums, they chose Kenmore Progressive 27514.
An over-the-counter allergy nasal spray that can be helpful is NasalCrom. If your sister starts using it a few days before her visit it may prevent some of the symptoms that make her miserable.
We discuss many other strategies against allergies in our book, Best Choices From The People’s Pharmacy. It is available from libraries, bookstores and online.
