Indoor Allergies occur due to your immune system reacting negatively to otherwise innocuous substances, like dust mites, pet dander, cockroaches or mold. While similar symptoms to outdoor allergies such as hay fever exist year round compared to seasonal outbreaks like outdoor allergens do.
Treatment options may include medications, immunotherapy (allergy shots) or home maintenance steps.
Medications
Allergies are caused by substances that stimulate an immune response in our bodies. When these allergens come in contact with cells of our noses, throats, eyes, lungs or skin they produce antibodies to fight them – antibodies which travel throughout these organs and cause symptoms like sneezing, nasal and sinus congestion, itchy watery eyes or postnasal drip. Some individuals even experience severe reactions or asthma attacks as a result.
UPMC in Central Pennsylvania provides diagnostic testing for indoor allergies using skin testing or blood tests, in order to pinpoint which allergens may be triggering symptoms. Skin testing exposes you to small doses of allergens in order to look for reactions on the skin indicating whether you may be sensitive or allergic; blood tests looking for immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies can also identify potential culprits that could be contributing to symptoms.
Medication may help alleviate indoor allergy symptoms. Oral antihistamines like cetirizine (Zyrtec Allergy), fexofenadine (Allegra Allergy), and loratadine (Claritin) are effective at relieving symptoms associated with indoor allergies, including sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and sneezing; corticosteroid nasal sprays like floticasone propionate (Flonase Allergy Relief), and budesonide (Rhinocort Allergy); while immunotherapy, which involves injecting small doses of allergens under your tongue to desensitize your immune system against them is another viable treatment option; this course of treatment typically takes several months; therefore some patients may prefer it over immunotherapy as this approach to desensitize themselves against future episodes; such as placing small doses under your tongue to desensitize immune systems to such allergies can take several months with significant time required from patients when starting such treatments; typically takes several months before completion requiring significant time commitment from patients as this treatment takes several months with significant time investment required from patients’ side; therefore patients’. Immunotherapy requires placing small doses under tongue to desensitize immune systems against allergens under their tongue can provide significant relief requiring substantial time commitment from patients’ side requiring significant time commitment as this approach requires placing small doses under their tongue to desensitize your immune systems which could require several months a potentially longer treatment options being completed a course treatment lasting results possible though immunotherapy as another approach may take months for completion requiring time.
Allergy shots
Immunotherapy or allergy shots (also referred to as immunotherapy), help alleviate allergy symptoms by desensitizing your immune system to allergens that trigger them. Over time, injections will be given subcutaneously – typically once weekly during build up phase before tapering down to once weekly or less at maintenance dose. Allergy shots are extremely safe; common side effects are itching or redness at injection site which usually subside after several injections have taken effect; severe reactions such as difficulty breathing, decreased blood pressure or even life threatening anaphylaxis are extremely rare but should always seek medical advice immediately if symptoms do persist after multiple injections – these severe reactions could even prove deadly!
Indoor allergens such as dust, mold and pet dander can trigger allergies in those living indoors, with allergy shots providing the ideal solution. Ideal candidates for allergy shots include those whose symptoms do not respond to over-the-counter medication and continue to affect their quality of life.
Before administering allergy shots, your doctor will conduct a comprehensive evaluation to ascertain your allergies. Through either skin tests (in which a small amount of the suspected allergen is scratched into your skin) or blood testing they will identify which allergens trigger your symptoms and customize a shot serum specifically tailored for you. These types of shots should not be administered if you suffer from heart disease, asthma or take beta blockers as this could increase risks significantly.
Allergen removal
Allergic symptoms can often be reduced or eliminated altogether by eliminating allergens from your home, such as dust mites, animal dander, pollen and molds.
Allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to harmless substances like pollen or pet dander (little bits of skin cells shed by animals with fur or feathers). Your immune system recognizes this allergen as dangerous and responds by producing antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE), which then attach themselves to mast cells in your skin, nose, eyes and throat where they release chemicals called histamines causing symptoms like sneezing, runny noses, watery eyes and itching.
Finding out what triggers your allergies is best done through visiting an allergist for skin prick tests or blood tests to measure levels of IgE antibodies against various allergens, followed by advice from their physician regarding ways to limit exposure and manage symptoms.
Allergic individuals can find relief from allergens through strategies such as switching out their carpeting for wood or tile flooring, eliminating curtains and drapes, frequently vacuuming with HEPA air filtration systems in the house, regularly vacuuming pets indoors and out, eliminating smoking indoors and out, exterminating cockroaches and controlling mold growth at home; as well as working with an allergist who can prescribe antihistamines and decongestants that may alleviate allergy symptoms.
Prevention
Many allergy symptoms like runny nose, sneezing and itchy eyes can be caused by mold, pet dander or dust mites in the home, while millions of people worldwide endure them year-round.
Your immune system recognizes allergens as threats, producing antibodies to counter them. Once produced, these antibodies travel throughout your body’s cells releasing chemicals which cause allergic reactions that are unpleasant for both parties involved.
If you suspect allergies, the first step is seeing an allergist for testing and treatment. Skin tests can help identify potential allergens by pricking the skin with extracts of common allergens like tree pollen or pet dander extracts and watching for any positive response (an itchy welt). Blood tests may also help pinpoint specific triggers.
Once you understand what triggers your allergies, there are numerous strategies for mitigating them. Eliminating allergens from your home can provide immediate relief, while antihistamines, decongestants, and corticosteroids may reduce symptoms like nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, itching, watery eyes etc. For more severe indoor allergies immunotherapy may also provide relief – this involves receiving injections from an allergist to desensitize your immune system against specific allergens that bother most often.
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