Allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to normally harmless substances in your environment, often manifested as nasal congestion and sneezing but sometimes also impacting other areas such as eyes or ears.
Indoor allergies cause year-round symptoms, unlike seasonal hay fever that abates with lower pollen counts. Pet dander, dust mites and mold spores all play a part.
Pet Allergies
Pets shed allergens such as fur, saliva and dander (dead skin flakes) into the air that can collect on surfaces such as walls, fabric furniture or clothing and remain at high levels for months at a time.
When exposed to pet allergens, their immune systems often misidentify them as harmful and produce antibodies called IgE as a defense mechanism against them. Over time, repeated exposure can trigger an overreaction from their immune systems leading to allergy symptoms ranging from minor sniffling and sneezing to life-threatening asthma attacks; pet allergens are frequently linked with other airborne allergens like pollen or house dust mites which could have an impact on these persons as well.
Although giving up pets is one way to reduce allergy symptoms, most people prefer keeping their furry friends. Working with a Board-certified allergist / immunologist who specializes in allergen reduction is typically effective in relieving allergy symptoms while still allowing patients to continue living with their furry friends.
Establishing an allergy-free zone in the home, with bedroom being of particular significance. This can be accomplished using HEPA filter air cleaners and regularly washing all fabrics; additionally regular vacuuming using high suction vacuums as well as avoiding wool blankets can help to keep dander levels down.
Mold Allergies
Molds are types of fungi that thrive in moist indoor and outdoor environments, including basements and areas with decaying vegetation. Their production of airborne spores travels through the air and can be inhaled to cause allergy-like reactions in humans; an overactive immune response leads to antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE). When these spores reach lung tissue they cause symptoms including nasal congestion, runny nose and sneezing as well as typical reactions such as nasal congestion, runny nose and sneezing.
Some mold spores can trigger allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, an asthma-like condition that affects the lungs, causing wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. Furthermore, mold spores may contain mycotoxins – toxic compounds that can lead to serious digestive, neurological, cardiovascular issues.
If you believe you may be allergic to mold, make an appointment with your physician. He or she will review your medical history and perform a physical exam before suggesting either a skin test or blood test to identify potential allergies. A skin test involves pricking the top layer of skin with small extracts from different kinds of mold; if it swells as a sign that is an allergy for that specific kind. A blood test measures IgE antibodies found in your blood that indicate whether you are sensitive or allergic.
Dust Mite Allergies
Dust mites are tiny creatures that thrive in warm and humid environments like bedding, upholstered furniture, carpets and curtains. Their lifecycle allows them to feed on human and pet dander shed by both people and animals alike; the waste products produced by dust mites cause allergy signs such as runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes or hives in both people and animals alike – these allergens can be found almost worldwide except Antarctica and are the leading cause of year-round allergies as well as seasonal asthmatics.
Your doctor may suspect a dust mite allergy based on your symptoms and home environment questions. They may use a lighted instrument to examine the lining of your nose which often becomes inflamed in those suffering from this allergy.
If your doctor suspects you have an allergy to dust mites, he or she will most likely suggest an allergy skin test. During this exam, a physician or nurse will apply small amounts of purified allergen extracts containing dust mite allergens to your skin surface and observe your reaction; if allergic to something specific it will likely create a red, itchy bump on its placement.
If you cannot take an allergy skin test, your doctor may prescribe a blood test to identify specific antibodies against common allergens, including dust mite allergens. If your results indicate an allergy, such as dust mite allergens, your doctor may suggest allergy immunotherapy wherein weekly injections of increasing doses of allergen extract will encourage your immune system to become less reactive over time and become tolerant and produce milder responses from it.
Asthma
Asthma affects over 50 million Americans. It’s characterized by inflammation of the airways in the lungs, with frequent episodes of breathlessness caused by irritation of these inflamed airways triggering repeated attacks of breathlessness triggered by them. Common symptoms of asthma are wheezing, shortness of breath and coughing – symptoms which are easily identifiable as they affect nearly everyone at some point during their lives.
Allergic asthma is a type of respiratory disease characterized by your immune system overreacting to allergens that are usually harmless, including grass and tree pollen, mold spores, pet dander, medications and even foods. Allergic reactions often manifest themselves through symptoms that include breathing difficulty. Common allergens that trigger allergic asthma symptoms include grass pollen, mold spores, pet dander and certain medications.
Allergies to pets and other animals may trigger asthma symptoms, with those caused by fur, saliva or dander (flakes of skin) from an animal acting as the main allergen source. Other allergens include smoke, fumes and strong soaps; colds or changes in weather may also act as triggers.
Inner-city studies have demonstrated the correlation between high indoor allergens and pollutants and asthma symptoms among inner-city children and an exposure to them, such as mice, cockroaches, rats, pet dander, dust mites, tobacco smoke, endotoxins and nitrogen dioxide, being present. Multiple environmental controls have proven successful at decreasing both incidence and severity of asthma in this population of children.
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