Allergies caused by dust mites, mold spores and pet dander can produce year-round symptoms in an individual. By keeping your home clean, you can help manage these allergens and lower symptoms year-round.
Regularly washing sheets, blankets and stuffed animals is one way to reduce dust mite allergens in your home, while increasing air filtration can help. In addition, grooming pets regularly can also help lower pet dander levels.
Indoor Allergens
Allergens found in our homes, work environments and schoolsaEUR”where we spend up to 98% of our timeaEUR”are one of the main causes of allergic symptoms, such as nasal congestion, runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing. Other symptoms may include itchy or scaly skin or wheezing – dust mites, cockroaches, domestic cats/dogs/wild rodents as well as fungi can be major sources.
Allergy symptoms due to these organisms may occur seasonally (hay fever) or year-round, in what’s known as nonseasonal allergic rhinitis or perennial allergies. Allergens that trigger reactions typically reside in bedding, mattresses, upholstered furniture and carpeting and feed on dead skin cells drawn by warm temperatures while preferring moist environments; most frequently found in homes and offices.
Cats are beloved household pets that can also trigger allergy symptoms in susceptible individuals. One such allergen, cat dander (skin flakes and saliva), produces symptoms after prolonged exposure; even those who previously tolerated them could become hypersensitive over time.
Mold, house plants and cleaning products are common allergens found in households. To minimize your exposure, open windows and use air conditioning; wearing a mask while cleaning surfaces can reduce exposure to allergens; running a dehumidifier can decrease moisture and consequently dust mite and mold growth; while an air cleaner with certified asthma and allergy-friendly(r) filters is a great way to filter indoor allergens out of the air.
Outdoor Allergens
Allergens from outdoor sources contribute significantly to symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis (hay fever), with their impact being tied closely with plant growth cycles. Vegetables (leaves, buds and seeds), vascular plants (flowers, grasses and trees), and fungi (spores) all produce allergen-bearing particles which are then dispersed into the atmosphere by wind, rain, mechanical disturbance or active discharge mechanisms and can reach indoor spaces where they may trigger an allergic response.
Outdoor allergies often arise due to tree, grass and weed pollens; however, mold spores may also play a part. Seasonal symptoms from such allergens tend to peak between spring and summer when tree pollen levels increase the most; although symptoms may still exist year-round for some individuals.
Outdoor allergens such as pet dander, dust mites and cockroaches can bring indoor allergens inside as well. These allergens may become airborne or settle onto surfaces such as upholstery and carpeting – in some cases even clothing worn outside! While keeping pets outdoors is one way of reducing exposure to allergy-inducing agents, it may not always be practical or possible. An allergist can help identify allergens as well as suggest ways to limit exposure – many find their allergies improve when following advice given from their allergist and taking preventive steps during peak allergy seasons!
Medications
Allergies to dust, pet dander and mold can be treated through medications and changes to cleaning practices. Immunotherapy shots (allergy shots) may also help by slowly increasing a person’s tolerance to allergens over time; these should be administered under medical supervision by an allergist. Oral immunotherapy – tablets taken orally under the tongue – is another solution available to people whose allergy symptoms remain uncontrolled by medication; one year’s worth of sessions typically suffices.
All medications work by blocking the body’s release of chemicals that trigger allergies. Antihistamines such as cetirizine in ZYRTEC work to alleviate runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing and itching by blocking histamine which is a chemical responsible for these symptoms. Nasal corticosteroids such as Flovent or Flonase help decrease swelling in nasal passages by nasal sprays, liquids pills or melting tablets which also relieve sinus congestion and nasal allergies effectively. Mast cell stabilizers such as Leukotriene modifiers help treat seasonal or indoor allergies as well as watery eyes that causes itchy watery eyes as well as itchy watery eyes with pills plus nasal drops or sprays applied directly onto nose.
Indoor allergies often present as itchy, watery eyes, a runny nose and throat itching. This could be caused by airborne allergens like animal dander, cockroach droppings and dust mites or contact with skin-irritants like mold, mildew and household cleaners – or by both!
Allergy Shots
Allergy shots (subcutaneous immunotherapy or SCIT) can be an effective treatment option for indoor allergies that affect the nose and eyes (allergic rhinitis), ears (allergic otitis media), or lungs (asthma). Shots may even reduce risk for asthma. Allergy shots work by slowly introducing small doses of allergens into your system over time to stimulate your immune system without prompting a reaction, eventually building immunity over time to manage or even eliminate symptoms altogether.
Allergen immunotherapy can be safely taken by children as young as 5 years old, although a reaction may arise upon receiving the shot itself – usually manifesting itself with reddening or swelling at the injection site, clearing within hours after administration of EpiPen(r). Should a more serious systemic reaction develop, all allergy shots must be administered in offices equipped with EpiPen(r). Should such an event arise, emergency services such as Yale New Haven Hospital should be sought immediately for treatment.
The allergy shot build-up phase typically lasts three to six months and involves administering series of shots that gradually increase allergen dose. Some allergists may offer shorter schedules; however, this may reduce effectiveness. Most patients will remain on maintenance shots for at least 3-5 years post treatment.
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