Indoor allergies such as hay fever can lead to itchy eyes, runny noses and congestion caused by allergens like dust mites, pet dander, mold spores or even cockroaches.
Allergy medications can provide much-needed relief, while home maintenance measures like decluttering, making repairs or making modifications can further lower allergy triggers. An allergist can perform skin tests to identify which allergens are causing symptoms in your particular situation.
Pet Allergies
Pet dander (dead skin cells) can trigger allergic reactions in susceptible individuals. Cats and dogs are typically the culprits behind allergic responses caused by pet dander; however other animals can also have this effect3. An allergic response happens when an individual’s immune system misinterprets harmless proteins present in pet dander as harmful germs, leading the body to react with symptoms like sneezing, itching, or swelling in respiratory or nasal passageways3.
Allergens such as dust, pollen and mold can also aggravate pet allergy symptoms. When exposed to dusty environments outside, these allergens become trapped in a pet’s fur and then released when grooming occurs; outdoor activities could bring these allergens back inside on their fur – this could become particularly problematic on pollen-filled days!
Assigning your pet(s) a separate room away from your bedroom, regularly brushing them, and switching out feather pillows for synthetic ones could all help decrease allergy symptoms. Cleaning regularly, installing a HEPA filter in the bedroom, and limiting fabric curtains/drapes are other helpful strategies for decreasing indoor allergens.
If reducing exposure and taking preventative measures don’t relieve your symptoms, visiting an allergy specialist for medication or immunotherapy shots (allergy shots) could provide temporary relief. Immunotherapy may even eventually lessen sensitivity to pet dander over time.
Mold Allergies
Molds are microbes found on surfaces like plants, food, wood, drywall and fabric that reproduce by producing tiny spores that float around in the air and enter our lungs when breathed in. When this happens, an allergic response begins which triggers our immune systems to produce histamine which then causes our noses to run, eyes itch and throats scratchy; mold allergies may be seasonal or year-round and may even contribute to asthma attacks in some people.
Mold allergy symptoms typically include sneezing, itchy nose and eyes, postnasal drip, wheezing, shortness of breath and cough. Certain kinds of mold (alternaria, aspergillus, cladosporium and penicillium) are more likely to trigger allergic responses than others.
if you suspect you may have a mold allergy, make an appointment with your physician for testing. He or she will ask that you keep a diary of when and where your symptoms arise; in addition, skin prick tests using tiny amounts of mold spores (and their related allergens like pollens or dust mites) could also help monitor for allergic reactions on skin contact. immunotherapy injections gradually increasing exposure can help manage or even eliminate reactions; our specialists offer this therapy and can give advice on managing symptoms effectively.
Dust Allergies
Millions of people suffer from allergies to dust mites, animal dander, mold spores and cockroach droppings. These tiny creatures live in bedding, mattresses, pillows, upholstered furniture, curtains and carpets where they feed off dead skin cells from our bodies and feed off these particles as we breathe them in. When our immune systems identify these “invaders”, they cause all manner of unpleasant symptoms including itchy eyes and nose, sneezing and coughing.
Dust mites thrive in warm and humid environments and can be found throughout a home. These pesky pests like to hide in bedding and can grow rapidly over time, devouring enough skin each day to stay alive. Their waste contains proteins that trigger an allergic response in our bodies when inhaled; when this happens, histamine is released and causes symptoms associated with allergy attacks.
Dust mite allergies usually manifest year round. If you find yourself sneezing and itching from indoor allergens, consult an allergy specialist immediately in order to identify their source. Your allergist will conduct an in-depth interview focusing on factors like work/home environments, family medical history, frequency and severity of symptoms as well as possible triggers such as pets or other sources.
Your allergist may employ skin testing as a way of pinpointing the source of your allergies, in which a small amount of potential allergens are placed beneath the surface of your skin and monitored for a positive reaction (such as raised welts). Once an allergen has been identified, steps can be taken to limit exposure such as replacing wall-to-wall carpeting with wood floors; using “mite-proof” cases on mattresses, box springs and pillows; washing all bedding regularly in hot water – such as replacing wall-to-wall carpeting by replacing wall-to-wall carpeting with wood floors; using “mite-proof” cases on mattresses; using “mite-proof” cases on mattresses, box springs and pillows as well as washing all bedding regularly with hot water regularly washing all bedding in hot water frequently to minimize exposure.
Smoke Allergies
Cigarette smoke has long been linked with allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and asthma symptoms, prompting many people to believe they experience allergic-like responses when exposed to tobacco smoke; however, medical professionals consider them more as irritants rather than true allergens. Cigarette smoke contains thousands of toxic chemicals which irritate nose, throat and eyes before also irritating airways to thin out further, opening them up more for real allergens like dust mites, pet dander and pollen to penetrate more readily before infiltrating immune systems faster.
Many Americans spend most of their time indoors, making the quality of the indoor environment an enormous public health concern. House dust mites, molds and animal dander allergens pose serious adverse health effects; over 100 million Americans are immunologically sensitized to these allergens while millions suffer from allergy-related diseases with consequent diminished quality of life.
Allergic substances can be eliminated or reduced through allergy testing and allergy medication. Pricking small amounts of suspected allergens onto the skin and waiting for any reaction (swelling, for instance) to identify allergenic materials can help identify allergenic materials that aggravate an individual. Once identified, allergy medication may then be given to desensitize immune systems long-term relief while for more severe cases inhaled immunotherapy may also provide lasting solutions by slowly administering allergens either orally or sublingually in pill form so as to desensitize immune systems over an extended period of time.
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