MSN: 25 Ways to Allergy-Proof Your Home

houseplants

The air inside our homes can be two to five times as polluted as the air outside. Bad news, especially for the more than 20-percent of people who suffer from allergies.

Research suggests that percentage is steadily increasing.

"For one thing, climate change and rising carbon dioxide levels have created an environment that's more hospitable to the growth of allergens such as mold," says Jay Portnoy, MD, director of allergy, asthma and immunology at Children's Mercy. "What's more we're living in cleaner indoor environments these days, so our immune systems go into overdrive when we're exposed to something unfamiliar, like dust mites or fur."

Certain houseplants reduce indoor air pollutants. But you can have too much of a good thing.

"If you don't clear out debris, the soil can harbor mold," Dr. Portnoy says. Limit the number of indoor plants and be sure you don't overwater them.

Read the full story via MSN.

Learn more about Children's Mercy's Division of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.