As cold and flu season approaches, you must consider the wellness of everyone you share your home with. Our families consist of husbands, wives, parents, kids, and pets. Each individual may be affected by the cold and flu season differently. Still, you can give everyone in your household an advantage by eliminating the allergens in your house first when you consider concrete flooring for your home.
What are Allergens?
Allergens are harmless substances to most people but cause the immune system to overreact in others. Types of allergens include:
- Pollen
- Dust mites
- Pet dander
- Mold and mildew
These airborne allergens can affect the respiratory system of individuals with allergies. There are other types of allergens, including skin, food, and medication, but when it comes to heightening the symptoms of cold and flu, airborne allergens are the number one proponent.
The symptoms that airborne allergies inflict are similar to signs that you might see in a person suffering from a common cold or influenza. These include:
- Runny nose
- Congestion
- Sneezing
- Wheezing
- Difficulty breathing
- Cough
- Headache
- Nausea
These symptoms are so similar that sometimes they get confused with each other. A person suffering from allergies may think they have a cold, and someone suffering from a cold may blame it solely on an allergy. Sometimes, however, it’s not one or the other; it’s both.
While a cold usually doesn’t last longer than a week, allergies will continue to bother you as long as you are exposed to the allergen. If an allergy is left untreated for an extensive amount of time, it can take a toll on your immune system and leave your body susceptible to viruses that cause colds and flu. In this weakened state, your body will have a tough time getting rid of the virus, and the symptoms could be more severe.
How Can Concrete Floors Reduce Allergies?
There is an abundance of flooring options for homeowners to choose from. Carpet, vinyl, wood, tile, and concrete are just a few. Some of these options have a better chance of preventing allergic reactions than others, and one is not an excellent choice to put in your home if you suffer from airborne allergies.
For anyone suffering from airborne allergies, carpet is the worst choice you could make for flooring. The fibers throughout carpet flooring trap substances that could easily be swept away on a concrete floor. Anytime someone walks across the carpet or interacts with it, the carpet can release allergens like dust mites, pollen, and pet dander back into the air for you to breathe in again. Long-term exposure to allergens can weaken your immune system over time. Vacuuming works, but not nearly as well as mopping or dusting on a harder surface.
Concrete floors are the best option for people suffering from allergies because concrete floors don’t trap dust. Even vinyl and tile have crevices where smaller substances can evade simple sweeping and mopping, which allows them to stick around for a while. Only concrete has a distinct solid surface that can help you distribute unwanted substances where they need to go, outside of your home. Some non-carpet materials require the use or absence of certain materials when cleaning them to maintain their integrity and aesthetics. Concrete is simple and easy to maintain. A quick dusting or damp mopping will do the trick every time.
Talk to a Concrete Specialist
If you’re weighing flooring options for your new home or business, consider concrete flooring to help eliminate pesky allergies and keep your family and employees healthy. Shepherd Concrete is ready to take your call and help you figure out how to get a floor you’ll love for its simplicity and beauty.