The comfortable chair that I just bought and sit in for hours each day is giving me a sore throat and making my eyes sting. I know that sounds crazy, but I’ve been experimenting for about a month now, and I can say for certain that after about a half hour of sitting in it – reading, doing my emails, or whatever – my throat starts to feel raw and I need to blink my eyes more. If I get up and move away from the chair, the symptoms dissipate until I go back there, and it starts again. I would just return the chair to the store, but there’s a no return policy. And if it’s actually emitting some sort of harmful chemical or fibers, I don’t want to give it away to an unsuspecting person who, like me, just wants to relax without side effects.
A Healthy Home Tip of the Month - October 2011
House dust and other allergens can cause asthma symptoms as well as nasal irritation, sneezing, and itching of the eyes, nose, throat and skin. Even if you’re not allergic, one in three visitors to your home probably is!
Children may be especially sensitive. There are ways to minimize your misery by making your house as allergy free as possible.
