Allergies can affect you both inside the house and outdoors, with mold spores, dust mites and pet dander being among the top allergens that cause itchy eyes, runny nose and breathing difficulties.
If your symptoms last all year round, nonseasonal hay fever (also called perennial allergic rhinitis) could be the culprit. Allergens such as cockroach parts, mold spores, pet dander and dust mites could trigger it.
Identifying Your Triggers
If you find yourself sneezing, itching and rubbing your nose frequently without leaving home, it could be that you’re suffering from indoor allergies. While seasonal pollen allergy causes these year-round symptoms to flare up outside, indoor allergies often stem from mold spores found inside homes such as fungi, dust mites, pet dander or mold spores found within.
Winter months can increase your likelihood of allergy symptoms due to staying indoors more often, since heating systems recirculate air that contains allergens and may recirculate them back out into your system. Furthermore, lifestyle and diet factors might worsen symptoms, including eating certain foods that trigger reactions.
Keep a symptom diary to track your symptoms. Keep track of the dates, times and locations of allergy attacks so you can identify their exact causes.
An allergist can help you identify the source of your allergies with skin or blood tests and physical examination of your eyes, nose, throat, chest, ears and skin. They will ask questions about your personal and medical history to narrow down possible causes for symptoms; then prescribe a personalized treatment plan tailored specifically to you and your situation. An allergist can reduce indoor allergy symptoms so you can enjoy life comfortably at home.
Medication
Allergy medicines can provide immediate relief and make living with indoor allergies easier, offering relief in pills, liquids, melting tablets and nasal sprays. Antihistamines work by blocking histamine – the chemical responsible for swelling and itching that triggered seasonal (hay fever) allergies as well as indoor (pollen, dust etc). They’re particularly useful at relieving symptoms like sneezing, runny noses and itchy eyes caused by seasonal allergens; plus relieving itchy skin or rashes! Antihistamines are available both OTC (over-the-counter at your local pharmacy), while older ones may cause drowsiness or even causes sleepiness due to blocking histamine’s anti-itching properties; make these medication your go-to choices when treating allergies (but see above for details).
Immunotherapy or allergy shots offer more advanced solutions that may reduce your reaction to certain allergens. Your allergist will provide weekly injections or sublingual tablets containing tiny quantities of allergens like dust mite proteins; gradually your body adjusts and may no longer respond as strongly. Allergen immunotherapy may help with allergies to house dust, mold and dander.
For mild to moderate allergies, doctors typically suggest medications combining an antihistamine and decongestant, or steroids nasal sprays or bronchodilators which open airways in your chest – these powerful drugs must only be taken under medical advice. Listen to Dr. Aronica’s full episode on The Health Essentials Podcast “Dealing With Allergies” to gain more information regarding medication for allergies.
Allergy Shots
Immunotherapy (allergy shots) may help alleviate your allergy symptoms and lessen or even eliminate their need for medication over the long-term. Your allergist will provide injections of specific allergens like pollen, mold spores, animal dander or dust mites over a six to 12-month period to make your immune system less sensitive to them, gradually lessening symptoms as your immunity adapts over time.
Your reaction may include itching, swelling and redness at the injection site; these usually last no more than two days and oral antihistamines such as cetirizine (Zyrtec), fexofenadine (Allegra) or loratadine (Claritin) may help mitigate them. Serious adverse reactions due to allergy shots are rare but potentially life-threatening; that is why allergy shots must be administered in an office equipped with an emergency epinephrine autoinjector so you are observed for at least 30 minutes post injection in case any serious reactions occur.
Immunotherapy should be followed as directed, typically every week or twice each week for at least three to six months, before gradually decreasing to every two or four weeks in order to enter maintenance phase which can last five years or more.
Cleaning
Many people with allergies suffer from year-round indoor allergies such as dust mite droppings, animal dander and mold spores that require regular cleaning to eliminate. Indoor allergies are just as debilitating as their outdoor counterparts and require extra attention in terms of maintaining hygiene levels in order to remain free from issues.
One effective solution to treat indoor allergies is maintaining a regular cleaning regimen, such as vacuuming and sweeping. This will reduce dust and allergen build-up in areas of your home that tend to attract it such as underneath furniture.
Furthermore, you should encase mattresses, box springs and pillows with special allergen-proof fabric covers or airtight zippered plastic covers to reduce allergen exposure. Furthermore, wash bedding weekly in hot water to kill bacteria and dander, and discourage your loved ones from having pets on their beds or couches as this can become another major allergy trigger.
Finally, if you have carpets, switch them for wood, tile or another flooring option like bamboo blinds to reduce allergen levels in your home and make life easier for all in it. Carpets trap dirt, dander, allergens and drapes that trap allergens – making life much simpler for your loved ones with allergies! Even simple changes such as these can significantly decrease allergy symptoms for everyone in it – not to mention making life simpler overall!
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