Allergies can make life miserable, and aren’t solely caused by pollen. Smoke, cleaning products and animal dander could all contribute to an allergic response that causes symptoms to flare. Medication or changing your living environment could reduce symptoms.
Baylor College of Medicine allergy experts state that household allergens such as dust mites, mold and pets may trigger allergies in people. These allergens include watery eyes and runny nose.
Pet Allergies
Allergies to pets can cause runny noses, sneezing and itchy eyes in children. Their symptoms may become so severe as to interfere with school and other activities – as most children are exposed to pet allergens outside their own home at friends’ houses or daycare facilities, where many different kinds of animals could potentially present themselves as allergens.
Pet allergies differ from other allergens in that their allergens don’t manifest as fur-based allergens; rather, their allergens reside in the form of dead skin cells, saliva and urine from pets that live indoors, as well as mold and pollen from outdoor walks that they bring into the house on walks where they cause reactions2.
When it comes to diagnosing pet allergies, allergy testing is an effective means of identification. Most often a skin prick test is used, with small amounts of the allergen being applied directly onto an arm and scratched to release histamine and produce an red bump which indicates its concentration within. The larger this bump becomes, the stronger its impact is and therefore greater is its potential allergy potential.
Opting out of pet ownership altogether would be ideal, yet often this is difficult given family bonds with the animals. If this is not an option, other strategies exist for managing their presence within a home: regular deep cleaning including washing upholstery furniture and carpets can reduce pet allergen levels in your environment while taking allergy medication prior to contact with the animal can also help; immunotherapy or desensitization injections may also help improve symptoms.
Mold Allergies
Mold allergies are an environmental allergy triggered by inhaling mold spores. Similar to other allergens, inhalation of mold spores can result in symptoms like runny noses, congestion, itchy eyes, sinus pressure and sinus pressure – as well as coughing and wheezing; known as Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA).
Molds are fungi that thrive in humid environments, producing spores that disseminate through the air and can be found both indoors and outdoors. Mold allergies arise when your immune system overreacts to these spores by treating them as threats that need to be destroyed – leading your body to produce antibodies in an attempt to ward off these mold spores.
Mold species exist in abundance, yet only certain varieties trigger allergic symptoms. These include alternaria, aspergillus, cladosporium and penicillium – often found growing in dim and damp places such as basements and bathrooms or outside in compost piles and decaying leaves.
Mold allergies can manifest symptoms at any time of year, unlike seasonal allergies from pollen or weeds. A doctor can easily detect mold allergies through skin tests or blood testing; for severe reactions they might even suggest immunotherapy – allergy shots to reduce mold spore sensitization – administered by an allergist.
Dust Allergies
Dust mite allergies are an especially bothersome issue. These microscopic eight-legged relatives of spiders thrive in warm and humid environments – such as bedding, mattresses, pillows, upholstered furniture and carpets – where they feed off dead skin cells and pet dander found in household dust. When these substances become airborne they can trigger symptoms including sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and even hives in people allergic to dust mites.
Dust allergies may not always be readily evident and can often be misinterpreted as cold or flu symptoms. Allergies tend to occur year-round unlike seasonal hay fever and worsen during winter due to dust mite fecal particles and pieces of dead mites still present; forced-air heating systems may also blow allergens into the air, worsening symptoms even further.
Consultations with allergists are vital when trying to understand what is triggering your allergies. In a medical interview, an allergist will collect information such as work and home environment details, frequency, severity and exposure potential allergens; additionally they’ll conduct skin tests to confirm what you are allergic to and pinpoint specific allergens which exacerbate symptoms, so as to select effective treatments and provide preventative advice that keeps symptoms at bay.
Airborne Allergens
Airborne allergens include pollen, dust mite spores, mold spores, animal dander and certain foods that when breathed in can trigger an immune system response that impacts skin, nose, eyes, lungs or the digestive tract. People suffering from airborne allergies typically experience sinus congestion, runny nose, itchy, watery or itchy eyes as well as coughing or wheezing as symptoms, while some can even lead to dark circles underneath their eyes – though specific food allergens can produce life-threatening reactions requiring immediate medical intervention – particularly those allergic to certain food allergens which must be addressed swiftly as soon as possible!
Some people experience allergy symptoms all year, while for others they only surface at certain times of year, such as spring when grass and tree pollen allergies appear. Others might develop hay fever – an allergy caused by pet dander, dust mites, or mould spores – and others still might have pet allergies as the source of their discomfort.
People can minimize their allergy symptoms by avoiding allergens, clearing their home of smoke and other irritants, washing bedding, pillows and curtains regularly, vacuuming regularly, using mite-proof covers on mattresses, box springs and pillows and reducing humidity. A diary may also help your physician pinpoint triggers so they can be avoided or treated. Allergy immunotherapy (allergy shots) can provide excellent treatment options for pollen allergies, mites allergies or some types of stinging insects.
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