At home, allergies caused by mold, dust mites, pet dander and household products can trigger symptoms including sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes. Antihistamine medications or allergy shots may provide temporary relief while immunotherapy may help gradually desensitize immune systems over time.
Indoor allergens like animal dander, cockroach droppings and mold spores can produce year-round symptoms of allergies compared to seasonal ones such as hay fever.
Prevention
Allergies occur when our immune systems overreact to normally harmless substances called allergens, releasing antibodies that cause symptoms such as runny nose, itchy eyes and sneezing when exposed. Indoor allergies often arise due to exposure to things such as pet dander, dust mites, cockroaches or mold spores while outdoor allergies such as grass pollens may only trigger seasonal reactions.
While allergies may seem inevitable, there are ways to fight them back. First and foremost, visit an allergy specialist for a prick-puncture or intradermal skin test; this will identify your specific allergies and enable them to create an appropriate treatment plan with medications and lifestyle adjustments tailored just to you.
Allergy symptoms tend to worsen during winter as people spend more time indoors with doors and windows closed and heating systems running, trapping allergens within the home and exacerbating allergies or asthma symptoms.
Regular cleaning will help minimize allergens such as pet dander, dust mites and mold in your home. Be sure to dust, vacuum and wipe down counters and other surfaces regularly using damp microfiber cloth dusting; for optimal results keep pets in separate rooms away from living spaces. In addition, spring and autumn tend to be peak pollen periods so avoid leaving during this time!
Medications
Allergy medications may help control symptoms, though avoiding allergen exposure remains the best method. Common allergy medication includes antihistamines, decongestants and mast cell stabilizers; antihistamines block histamine – the chemical that triggers allergic swelling – with pills, liquids, melting tablets or nose sprays available – they’re especially useful against sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes as they block its production from happening; decongestants open airways to make breathing easier; while mast cell stabilizers prevent histamine release by mast cells from happening; these drugs must be prescribed by an allergist for maximum effect.
If medication is ineffective or your allergies are severe, an allergist may recommend allergy skin or blood tests in order to identify which allergens are triggering them. Allergy skin tests involve pricking your skin with allergens and watching for any raised welts; blood allergy tests measure antibody levels to specific allergens.
Your allergist can also assist in alleviating symptoms by making adjustments in the home, such as replacing wall-to-wall carpeting with hardwood flooring, eliminating fur and feather bedding and keeping pets out of the bedroom. Incorporating HEPA air cleaners or washing all bed linens with hot water are other effective measures for limiting indoor allergen exposure. In some instances, immunotherapy (allergy shots) may provide long-term solutions; this treatment trains your immune system to tolerate allergens over time.
Allergy Shots
Allergy shots (immunotherapy) provide long-term relief from severe allergies. An ENT doctor or allergist will conduct allergy tests and customize a shot serum specifically to your needs. Allergy shots do require some commitment: initially there’s the build-up phase which lasts several months with injections occurring twice weekly before ongoing maintenance shots every few weeks or months for several years; it is important not to miss doses as doing so could hinder treatment progression. Never miss an injection as missing one could disrupt its course!
Allergen immunotherapy involves injecting small doses of the allergen that causes your symptoms into one or more lymph nodes in your groin area, gradually decreasing your immune response until eventually you no longer react to it at all – thus significantly alleviating or even eliminating allergy symptoms altogether while needing less and less medication to control them.
Local reactions to allergy shots are generally mild, such as swelling or redness at the injection site, while more serious systemic reactions, known as anaphylaxis, may include throat swelling, wheezing or tightness in the chest; low blood pressure; dizziness or nausea may also accompany these conditions; in rare instances anaphylaxis may even prove life-threatening.
Prevent a local reaction before an injection by taking antihistamine medication beforehand. Your healthcare provider may advise carrying an EpiPen or Auvi-Q autoinjector in case of severe allergic reaction.
Home Maintenance
Indoor air pollution often contains the same allergens that cause reactions in outdoor air, such as mold spores, dust mites, pet dander and household products that trigger allergic reactions. Mold spores, dust mites, pet dander and household products may all trigger itchy eyes, runny noses and congestion – symptoms similar to that associated with colds – so many don’t realize they have indoor allergies until symptoms worsen; changing lifestyle habits can have a dramatic impact on their symptoms.
Change air filters regularly, run your humidifier and use a dehumidifier, wash sheets, blankets and stuffed animals in hot water weekly and vacuum carpets frequently can all help to lower allergy levels in your house. Keep pets out of bedrooms and living rooms, groom them regularly and wash hands after touching them to reduce symptoms caused by pet dander; seal garbage cans when not in use to cover crumbs from food that fall onto surfaces as well as using traps for cockroaches can also help minimize allergen levels in your home.
If your symptoms do not subside with medications and other treatments, consult an allergist/immunologist. They may suggest skin tests to pinpoint what allergens you’re reacting to and help treat them effectively; additionally they may refer you to a home inspector or indoor air specialist for additional solutions.
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