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By gaining a better understanding of the allergies caused by pets, you may be able to find a healthier coexistence with your furry friend. According to The Humane Society, 62 percent of American households have at least one pet. Yet, an estimated 31 million Americans are allergic to animals, including up to 30 percent of those who have asthma. Here's what you should know about pet allergies: Myth 1: It's only pet hair that causes allergies to flare up. Not true. Pet hair is a nuisance and causes allergies, as it contains saliva or other pet proteins. Allergic reactions to...

  It's been said that, "Home is where the heart is." While this sentiment may be true, that home could also be making you sick. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans spend on average about 90 percent or more of their time indoors, where pollutant levels may be two to five times (and possibly more than 100 times) as high as the levels outdoors. "Most of us don't think about it, because we cannot see the pollution, and sometimes we can't smell it," says a representative for the American Lung Association in Orange County, Calif. Which is why,...

When the weather report issues an air quality warning, some people stay indoors, but there's no guarantee that the air in the home is any healthier than the air outside. Common indoor air pollutants such as dust mite grime, pet dander, mold, tobacco smoke, and airborne allergens and germs may be lurking about without anyone ever noticing. Adults spend up to 90 percent of their time indoors and inhale approximately 2,300 gallons of air a day. Given that, people face significant, ongoing exposure to a variety of unwelcome indoor air pollutants. Extended exposure to these pollutants can cause eye, nose...

  Most Americans are unaware of an important fact: The air we're breathing inside our homes, schools and offices can be highly polluted. In fact, most people don't even think about the air that they breathe, but they should. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says levels of indoor air pollution can be between two and five times higher -- and occasionally as much as 100 times higher -- than outdoor air. Indoor air pollution can be such a problem that the EPA ranks poor indoor air quality among the top five environmental risks to public health. These statistics are...