Allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to an allergen (an otherwise harmless substance). Your immune system produces antibodies called immunoglobulin E that then trigger different cells within your body to produce chemicals which produce symptoms.
Symptoms may include sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes – often brought on by year-round indoor allergens such as dust mites, mold spores and animal dander.
Dust
If your symptoms include itchy eyes, runny nose or congestion during wintertime, it could be that indoor allergies are to blame. Pollen, pet dander and dust mite droppings can trigger these types of reactions in sensitive individuals; fortunately there are ways you can manage and decrease these triggers to bring relief to symptoms like these.
Dust mites, tiny arthropods related to ticks and spiders, are a leading cause of indoor allergies. They thrive in warm, humid conditions where cotton-like fibers such as bedding, mattresses, pillows, carpeting and upholstery furniture exist, clinging with tiny sticky pads on their legs to these materials like sheets. When inhaled airborne dust mites enter our bodies via inhalation, our immune systems recognize them as invaders and overreact by producing antibodies which travel to cells which release chemicals which cause symptoms that manifest as symptoms from allergic symptoms.
If you are frequently exposed to dust mites, over-the-counter or prescription medications may help relieve your symptoms. Decongestants and antihistamines may reduce itching, sneezing and runny nose; corticosteroid sprays (corticosteroids) or immunotherapy shots (immunotherapy) may gradually build your tolerance so you can avoid allergens altogether; and an experienced board-certified allergist will recommend the best medications for you.
Mold
Molds are fungi that produce spores that can trigger allergic reactions in individuals who are sensitive. Mold spores spread throughout the air and can be found both indoors and outdoors; damp environments such as basements and bathrooms tend to harbor mold growth while mold may even accumulate on vegetables and fruit stored damply.
As soon as an allergic person breathes in mold spores, their immune system responds by releasing chemicals which cause itchy and runny eyes, nose, throat, coughing, shortness of breath and coughing fits. Sometimes mold spores also carry mycotoxins which may lead to liver and kidney issues if inhaled; mycotoxins may also be found in certain species such as Stachybotrys that is known for weak or compromised immune systems.
Mold allergies tend to appear during the summer season; however, they can occur at other times of year as well. Mold spores tend to thrive in damp environments like compost piles or decomposed wood materials, where dampness allows mold spores to flourish.
Doctors typically perform physical exams and review medical histories in order to diagnose mold allergies, as well as ordering blood or skin tests to measure levels of Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies directed against specific allergens (such as mold spores). IgE antibodies can indicate sensitivity towards mold. They will also conduct inspections inside of the nose, mouth, and lungs for signs of irritation or inflammation.
Pets
If your allergies include itchy eyes, runny nose and constant postnasal drip year-round instead of just during pollen season, this could be nonseasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever). This condition involves allergies triggered by indoor allergens like pet dander, dust mites, cockroach parts molds or cleaning products in your household cleaning products causing symptoms that persist year-round instead of just when pollen season comes around.
Many people with cat allergies experience reactions to Fel d 1 protein found in skin flakes and dander shed by domestic cats, while people allergic to canine saliva produce Can f 1 that may become trapped in their fur or dander – both produce antigens which cause allergic reactions in people allergic to either. Unfortunately, no breed of cat or dog exists that are truly “hypoallergenic.”
Reduce allergens that cause allergy symptoms by keeping pets outside and not bringing them into rooms where you spend most of your time, washing them frequently and using air filters; consider replacing wall-to-wall carpeting with hard flooring such as hardwood or linoleum, washing walls regularly to limit mold growth, replacing wall-to-wall carpet with hard floor or linoleum surfaces, using air filters when possible, using air purifiers when possible and replacing wall-to-wall carpeting with hard surfaces such as hard flooring or linoleum surfaces; air filters could further help, along with installing wall-to-wall carpet replacement options as a potential means to mitigate allergen exposure; replacing wall-to-wall carpeting with hard floors or linoleum should help limit allergen exposure while washing walls frequently can help limit mold growth on surfaces where you spend time.
Allergy testing can help identify your sensitivity to common indoor allergens such as cat or dog dander, dust mites, and certain fungus spores. A scratch or skin prick test involves placing small amounts of the allergen directly on your skin before gently pricking to see if there is an allergic response; an intradermal skin injection involves injecting small doses under your skin similar to what TB tests use; additionally your allergist may prescribe medicine or immunotherapy therapy as treatments against your allergies.
Smoke
Fire in the fireplace may provide cozy hygge (Danish term for coziness around log-burning fire), but can also create indoor allergies. Smoke from fireplace fires contain carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds — pollutants which linger even after smoke has cleared from airways.
Smoke allergies can produce symptoms including sinus congestion, wheezing and chronic coughing. Sinus congestion results from smoke irritating sinus passages and producing extra mucus; wheezing occurs when airways tighten making breathing harder; while chronic coughs result from irritating allergens in smoke entering into our lungs and irritating them further.
Smoke from tobacco use, including secondhand smoking, contains thousands of chemicals which are harmful to health. These include nicotine as well as cancer-causing agents such as formaldehyde and naphthalene; these toxins may settle onto fabrics, drapes and soft surfaces where they remain for many months before creating thirdhand smoke and leading to asthma, bronchitis or other respiratory problems in those exposed.
Wood smoke can affect everyone, but those most at risk include children and teenagers, older adults with heart or lung conditions such as emphysema or asthma and those living in low-income communities. Wood smoke exposure becomes even more hazardous during temperature inversions when smog builds up over the ground surface.
Comments are closed