Indoor allergies can result in symptoms including itchy eyes, runny nose and nasal congestion. Antihistamine medications, altering cleaning regimens and installing air filters may all be effective ways of mitigating allergy triggers.
Indoor allergens such as dust mites can wreak havoc all year long, unlike seasonal allergies like hay fever. An allergist at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center provides tips to manage these allergies:1.
Dust Mites
Dust mites are tiny relatives of spiders and ticks that feed on dead skin cells shed by humans on an ongoing basis, feeding on it like hungry sharks in warm, humid environments. When exposed to allergens from dust mite allergens, this can trigger skin rashes similar to eczema as well as allergic rhinitis (hay fever), asthma symptoms worsening or itchy eyes – even postnasal drip which produces whistling sounds when breathing as well as worsening of asthma symptoms.
Dust mites can live in mattresses, pillows, upholstered furniture, carpets and curtains – anywhere there’s air circulation – without biting or spreading disease; instead they release proteins from their droppings that irritate airways, potentially leading to dust mite allergies. Chances of developing an allergy increase if you have eczema, hay fever or have a biological family history of Atopy, which means an inherited tendency towards allergies.
Reduce dust mite exposure by regularly washing bedding, removing rugs, vacuuming with an electrostatically charged mop or HEPA filter and dehumidifying. You could also purchase a dehumidifier to decrease humidity levels in your home and using tightly woven allergy-proof covers on mattress and box spring, plastic covers on pillows as well as hot water washing of clothes and drapes regularly as well as freezing your stuffed animals to kill dust mites in them. Finally, keeping a diary detailing when and how symptoms occur to help your doctor identify potential allergy triggers more accurately.
Pets
Many people are allergic to proteins found in animal fur, saliva and dander (dead skin flakes), though even pets with no hair can still trigger allergic symptoms. According to estimates, roughly 12-2% of the general population and 25-66% of children diagnosed with asthma are sensitive to allergens found in pet hair or fur.
Allergies to cats and dogs are extremely common, while other animals may also cause issues. Cat allergies typically result from the protein found in their dander, while dogs may react to different proteins which cause symptoms even if they do not have much fur.
Pet dander can settle onto clothing and cause breathing issues when entering bedrooms or other parts of the house. To minimize exposure, it is suggested that someone without allergies regularly groom their pets and clean the cage, litter box and bedding to reduce allergens. Furthermore, wash hands after petting pets before heading to sleep each evening.
Symptoms such as sneezing, having itchy eyes or nose or coughing frequently that do not subside after avoiding things that trigger them should be brought up with an allergist. They will conduct a physical examination that checks all areas including eyes, ears, nose throat chest lungs as well as performing skin tests using various allergens; otherwise blood tests may be used instead if this method cannot be performed.
Mold
Mold spores can trigger allergies in some people, causing runny nose, itchy eyes, nasal congestion and in extreme cases skin irritation (dermatitis). Some types of mold also produce substances known as microbial volatile organic compounds which irritate respiratory systems and may contribute to headaches; they also produce musty or earthy aromas associated with some mold species.
Black molds have been known to produce mycotoxins – harmful fungi poisons which may be dangerous if eaten or inhaled – which have the potential to be toxic for humans and animals if eaten or inhaled; however, such cases have not occurred in the US, and most individuals exposed to these kinds of mold do not develop health issues as a result.
Mold can also be an irritant and cause various symptoms when inhaled directly; such as irritation to nasal passages, sinuses, throat, lungs and eyes. Irritating effects usually result from chemicals released when mold breaks down; while some fungi release these directly into the air while others emit them through their surface.
An allergy to mold can be diagnosed through skin prick tests and blood tests that detect immunoglobulin E antibodies against specific allergens. To avoid activating allergy symptoms, remove moldy items from the home and maintain humidity below 50%; limit outdoor activities during high mold spore counts; wear a mask when performing yard work; take antihistamines or nasal corticosteroids medication as needed to ease allergy symptoms.
Smoke
Smoke is the result of the burning of material. While cigarettes, cigars, pipes and pipes with pipes produce smoke as by-products, other sources like cooking fireplaces wood-burning stoves or wildfires also produce it.
Allergies to smoke may include runny nose, itchy eyes, coughing and sinus congestion. Furthermore, its irritants may exacerbate asthma attacks further while long-term exposure can even result in lung damage from secondhand smoke exposure.
Smoke poses particular risk due to its invisible and deep-lung-reaching irritants that are especially hazardous, including invisible particles which lodge deep into lungs and cause asthma, bronchitis or lung cancer. Smoke also produces an unpleasant whistling noise when breathing because it irritates airways in throat and lung passageways causing airway obstructions resulting in whistling noises when inhaled or exhaled.
If you are experiencing allergic reactions, don’t wait to visit an allergist. By tracking when and where symptoms appear, an allergist can identify possible triggers and prescribe appropriate treatment options such as sublingual immunotherapy to alleviate them. Immunotherapy treatments like sublingual immunotherapy also desensitize your immune system for lasting relief from allergies. Learn more about treatment options available for home and workplace allergies today. (2019 Allergy and Asthma Centers of America / Allergy & Asthma Institute of Ohio). All rights are reserved and posted with permission by Allergy and Asthma Centers of America/All rights Reserved/Uploaded with permission).
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