Indoor allergens such as dust mites, pet dander and mold can trigger allergies that lead to symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes – including sneezing. Treatment options for such allergies can include medications and making changes in cleaning practices.
Mild symptoms may be alleviated by vacuuming and washing bedding in hot water at least once every week, as well as running an air cleaning device. For more severe symptoms, allergy testing and treatment from a certified allergy specialist may provide relief.
Dust Mites
Dust mites are tiny creatures that thrive in warm and humid environments such as bedding, mattresses and upholstered furniture, where they often cause year-round allergy symptoms like runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, wheezing and difficulty breathing.
Mites feed on dead skin cells shed by humans and animals alike, as well as other organic matter such as textile fibers, pet dander and mold spores. Their proteins found in their feces or decomposing bodies cause allergic reactions in some individuals.
Avoiding contact with dust mite allergens is the best way to manage and treat an allergy to them, so use a HEPA filter in your heating and cooling system as soon as possible. Avoid using upholstered furniture and curtains in your home and utilize allergy-proof covers on pillows, mattresses and box springs. Wash all stuffed animals and bedding weekly using hot, soapy water. Reduce humidity in your home with air conditioning units or dehumidifiers and regular vacuuming with HEPA filter vacuum cleaners, while speaking to an allergist/immunologist if allergy symptoms persist or worsen – particularly if asthmatic symptoms exist or worsen. Immunotherapy involves gradually increasing exposure to allergens that trigger symptoms in order to train your immune system not to react in response.
Pets
Fur and dander from cats, dogs, hamsters, rabbits, ferrets and other rodents can cause indoor allergies in some people. Dander consists of small pieces of skin shed by grooming animals which then end up as tiny particles on surfaces in your home or workspace. Furthermore, people may react adversely to proteins found in pet saliva, urine and feces which also can result in indoor allergies.
Most allergens float freely in the air, but some can also accumulate on bedding, carpets and upholstered furniture where they come into direct contact with humans – leading to symptoms like runny nose, itchy eyes, coughing and wheezing.
An allergist is your best resource for discovering your allergies. By asking you questions about your medical and personal history and performing an examination, they can narrow down what’s causing your symptoms and find their source. They may also conduct skin or blood allergy testing called RAST (reaction allergen specific t-cell). In addition to limiting exposure by cleaning and altering the environment of your home and taking other steps such as antihistamines/decongestants as needed to alleviate symptoms; more serious cases may benefit from immunotherapy (allergy shots), helping desensitizing immune systems over time to reduce symptoms over time.
Mold
Fungi (also known as molds) are organisms that thrive in humid environments both indoors and outdoors. Mold spores are airborne seeds spread by mold that can easily be inhaled by humans who are sensitive to them, leading to runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, itchy skin or rashes in susceptible people. Mold allergies may even aggravate asthma symptoms in some individuals.
Mold allergies tend to increase from July through late summer, though since these spores can be found both indoors and outdoors, symptoms may occur year round. Mold can typically be found in moist places like logs, compost piles and plant matter but can also exist in wet environments like bathrooms, basements and kitchens.
Inhaling mold spores may cause headaches, respiratory difficulties, gastrointestinal upset and nausea or vomiting. People allergic to certain kinds of mold may suffer more serious reactions including lung infections or even asthma attacks if exposed. Allergy testing, both skin and blood, can help identify which molds you’re sensitive to.
Allergy Medications
Your home should be your refuge, but what if allergens in it cause sinus passageways to congest, eyes to water or itchy, irritated skin? These symptoms could indicate indoor allergies due to dust mites, cockroach parts or pet dander.
Antihistamines, decongestants, nasal steroids and mast cell stabilizers may provide effective relief for allergies. You can find these medicines in pill form as well as liquids, nose sprays, eye drops, skin creams or shots (immunotherapy). Speak to a health care provider about which options will work best for you.
Allergies, even mild ones like hay fever, can significantly impact quality of life. Extreme allergic reactions like anaphylaxis can be life threatening; your doctor can provide epinephrine auto-injectors to treat severe allergic reactions and teach you how to use them; these injections work quickly to reverse anaphylaxis symptoms and should always be carried with you at all times along with keeping track of when their expiration dates should be used up – be sure to mark them on a calendar or pillbox so it does not become outdated
Allergy Shots
Allergy shots, also known as subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT), may help relieve allergy symptoms and the need for medication. Each allergy shot contains a small dose of the allergen that triggers your symptoms; health care professionals administer these shots in your upper arm. At first, however, skin testing may be used by doctors during initial sessions to make sure the allergy shot contains exactly those allergens which cause reactions; skin testing involves having several allergens prick your skin so they can pinpoint which allergens cause a reaction.
Your doctor then selects ingredients for your allergy shots and you undergo a build-up period, where injections are given twice weekly over three to six months while gradually increasing allergen amounts in each injection over this timeframe. Allergy shots may not be advised for people with certain medical conditions such as heart disease or severe asthma; additionally those on beta blockers should avoid allergy shots.
Allergy shots may cause local reactions at the injection site, typically redness and swelling. To lessen irritation at your appointment, oral antihistamines such as cetirizine (Zyrtec), fexofenadine (Allegra), or loratadine (Claritin) should be taken prior to appointments.
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