Indoor allergies are typically caused by dust mites, mold spores and pet dander – allergens which can trigger itchy eyes, runny nose and congestion symptoms. Running a dehumidifier will help avoid moisture build-up while simultaneously decreasing allergen overgrowth.
Allergies can also cause postnasal drip and coughing, worsen asthma symptoms and lead to postnasal drainage.
Avoiding Allergens
Pollen from trees, grasses and weeds may trigger itchy eyes, runny nose and congestion during spring and summer; however, similar symptoms can also arise in winter due to indoor allergens like dust mites, mold spores and pet dander causing your immune system to overreact and produce antibodies which cause inflammation in your nose, throat, sinuses ears and lungs.
While medications can help alleviate allergy symptoms, the best way to protect against allergic reactions is limiting exposure to indoor allergens. This is especially crucial during winter when people spend more time inside, closing doors against cold air in an effort to stay warm. Furthermore, air conditioners recirculate indoor air re-inhaling allergens back into our lungs.
Allergens can be found everywhere from our homes, workplaces and schools – where 98 percent of our lives take place – to public places such as workplaces. Recent advances in molecular biology have made it possible to detect and clone new indoor allergens such as mites, cockroaches, cats, dogs, rodents and mold.
Clean frequently and reduce clutter to minimise indoor allergens. This will limit mold growth in damp environments such as basements and bathrooms, while dust mites prefer soft surfaces such as furniture or bedding. In addition, running a dehumidifier can decrease humidity to help combat mold growth while an air cleaner with a certified asthma and allergy filter will remove outdoor allergens from indoor air quality.
Medications
Allergy medications may help relieve symptoms such as itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing and congestion. Furthermore, they may prevent more serious allergic issues like swelling of skin tissue, throat passages or ears as well as labored breathing. Baptist Health primary care providers can discuss medication that will best address your allergies.
Allergens such as animal dander (from dogs, cats or other animals), dust mite droppings, cockroach parts and mold spores can be present year-round in homes and workplaces – unlike pollen which tends to peak seasonally – although indoor allergens such as animal dander may be reduced by making changes to cleaning routines and environmental modifications.
At certain times of year, allergens present in your home can trigger an intensely hypersensitive response from your immune system. Immunoglobulin E antibodies (IgEs) are released to fight off invaders before traveling through cells releasing chemicals and producing symptoms associated with allergic reactions.
Your doctor can perform prick-puncture or intradermal testing in the office to identify what allergens you’re allergic to, using either prick-puncture or intradermal testing. Your arm will be pricked, and blood samples taken. An allergy specialist can then identify suitable treatments such as antihistamines, decongestants, inhaled nasal steroids or leukotriene modifiers which will best address your symptoms depending on when and where they arise, what other activities or tasks take place and past history experiences using such medicines.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy utilizes your body’s natural defense mechanisms to fight cancer and autoimmune conditions like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Immunotherapy treatments aim to trigger your immune system’s natural defenses against tumor cells or reduce overactive immune response in autoimmune conditions like Lupus. Immunotherapy treatments may be administered orally (in pill form), intravenously or subcutaneously into an implantable portacath in your chest – these therapies can all provide benefits.
Immunotherapy drugs may not work effectively for all patients and may cause serious side effects. Some immunotherapy drugs can cause fatigue and be poorly tolerated by those with preexisting health problems; itchy skin may require lotions and creams be applied during therapy, interfering with sleep. Fatigue may become especially troubling and should be monitored. Acetaminophen can help manage such flu-like symptoms as chills, muscle and joint ache pains weakness nausea vomiting in some cases of immunotherapy treatments.
Immunotherapy treatments may last several years. According to some studies, studies indicate that the longer patients receive immunotherapy treatments, the more benefit they may reap; however, many factors can dictate whether treatment continues beyond this point; adverse events or financial concerns could prompt people to stop.
Allergy Shots
Allergy shots are one of the most effective treatments available to reduce allergy symptoms from pollen, dust mites, pet dander and mold. Unlike avoidance or medications, allergy shots help your body build immunity that gradually lessens allergy symptoms and sensitivities over time.
Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) injections contain small doses of allergens determined during skin testing or blood testing and administered subcutaneously under your skin in either your arm or thigh. Shots are given on a regular schedule with increasing amounts each time until reaching a maintenance dose that provides long-term relief from allergy symptoms.
Reactions to allergy shots typically only involve reddening and swelling near where the shot was administered, though some reactions can affect your entire body. Your doctor may ask you to remain in their office for 30 minutes after each shot to monitor for any serious reactions; an EpiPen or Auvi-Q autoinjector may be prescribed in case an unexpected severe allergic reaction to an allergen was injected into you.
Allergy shots are typically covered by most health insurance plans. When compared with medications, doctor and emergency room visits and missed work due to symptoms related to hay fever, allergy shots can often be an economical solution for many.
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