Many people suffer from allergies triggered by indoor allergens like dust mites, cockroach droppings and pet dander. These allergens activate immune responses in our bodies which result in symptoms like sneezing, stuffiness, nasal congestion and runny nose.
Allergy symptoms can be lessened by regularly vacuuming and washing bedding, blankets, stuffed animals and bedding in hot water. Also keeping pets outside and grooming them regularly can help decrease allergy symptoms.
Air Filtration
If you find yourself sneezing, itching and experiencing red eyes without leaving your home, it could be due to indoor allergens such as pet dander, dust mite droppings or mold spores causing allergies. While outdoor pollen only becomes an issue at specific times throughout the year, indoor allergens may trigger year-round symptoms unlike its seasonal counterpart.
Air filtration can significantly alleviate allergy and asthma symptoms by filtering allergens out of the air. HEPA filters are considered the industry standard when it comes to filtering allergens out of your home’s environment; look for one with a designation as asthma and allergy friendly(r).
An air filter in your home can help lower humidity, which helps prevent dust mites and mold growth. Regular vacuuming and changing air filters is key, while keeping pets away from the house to reduce exposure to their allergens.
Cockroaches are another allergen that may trigger allergic reactions in some individuals. Hiding in cracks and crevices, they spread germs and irritants throughout your home – research indicates that using cockroach eradication products can effectively decrease their number.
Mold Remediation
Molds produce allergens, irritants and potentially toxic substances known as mycotoxins that can wreak havoc with human health. Mold spores inhaled can exacerbate asthma and bronchitis; their allergenic nature also often prompts allergic reactions such as sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose and skin rashes (dermatitis). Severe exposure to black mold or Stachybotrys chartarum could prove life-threatening to some individuals with compromised immune systems.
Allergies to mold occur when our bodies react negatively to specific mold spores lingering in the air. Unlike normal fungi, mold spores are small enough to pass through our nose and mouth and into our lungs; when inhaled they may trigger symptoms like sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, runny nose and congestion – with farmers, dairy workers, loggers, bakers and greenhouse employees having higher incidence rates than others of developing allergies to mold.
To diagnose mold allergies, your physician will conduct an exhaustive physical exam that covers ears, eyes, nose and lungs. They may also conduct blood or skin prick tests for antibodies against mold; depending on your symptoms and allergy air filter usage you may be able to reduce them through avoidance strategies and nasal lavage with salt water (nasal lavage). Immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots can make your body less reactive over time to allergens that trigger symptoms.
Allergy Shots
Allergy shots, or immunotherapy, can effectively relieve allergy symptoms by gradually exposing your immune system to small quantities of allergens that cause them. An allergist or doctor may use extracts from grass pollen; dust mites; molds or animal dander for injections – the symptoms should lessen over time while decreasing or eliminating your need for medication.
Allergy injections should be administered in a medical office equipped with emergency epinephrine auto-injectors in order to address life-threatening reactions, such as anaphylaxis. If any severe reactions such as anaphylaxis occur after getting an injection shot, notify a healthcare provider immediately. Generally, reactions at the injection site include swelling, redness or itching while systemic reactions such as sneezing, nasal congestion or hives may occur as well.
Before receiving allergy shots, your doctor will conduct either skin tests or blood tests to confirm and identify which allergens are the source of most of your symptoms. Skin testing also allows an allergist to select an ideal dosage of allergens for you; depending on how your reaction goes with shots you may start off at high doses and gradually reduce them until maintenance phase arrives at which point allergy shots may only need to be administered once weekly or monthly; full benefits of allergy shots typically appear after three to five years have been administered; though significant improvements should already have taken place within one year!
Talk to Your Doctor
When over-the-counter allergy medicines don’t do the trick or your allergies are bothersome and persistent, prescription may be needed to manage symptoms. When choosing which medication will best serve you it is wise to visit with a healthcare professional such as a family doctor, gynecologist or allergist and provide as much detail as possible about yourself and what symptoms are bothersome. Make sure your visit provides all of your health history as this will give them an accurate picture of what symptoms you’re experiencing.
Outdoor seasonal allergies like tree, grass and weed pollen usually trigger itchy eyes, runny nose and sneezing in spring, summer and fall; indoor allergens such as dust mites, mold spores, pet dander and cockroaches may also contribute to these symptoms. Furthermore, other symptoms of indoor allergies can include nasal congestion, post-nasal drainage, throat irritation coughing as well as worsening asthma attacks.
Allergists offer skin and blood tests to assess allergy to common indoor allergens. These tests expose your skin to small doses of different allergens in order to identify which substances you’re sensitive to; combined with your medical history and physical examination results, this information helps your healthcare provider craft a personalized treatment plan for you – such as allergy pills or nasal saline rinses/sprays/shots to minimize allergic reactions; housekeeping best practices or running dehumidifiers in damp basement areas can reduce allergen presence significantly as well.
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