Allergies to dust mites, animal dander and mold often persist year-round and can be more problematic than seasonal allergies caused by pollen or other outdoor allergens.2
If you suffer from indoor allergies, keeping track of when symptoms strike will help your doctor identify what triggers them and recommend allergy shots or other treatment solutions.
Medications
Allergies arise when your immune system misinterprets otherwise harmless substances in the environment and overreacts, creating symptoms like runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing which disrupt your quality of life. Medication can help manage these reactions to provide a higher quality of life.
Allergy medicines come in pills, liquids, nasal sprays and eye drops. Oral antihistamines block histamine production from trigger chemicals which create an allergic response and thus decrease sneezing, itching and watery eyes; they can be purchased both over-the-counter and with a valid valid prescription. Nasal corticosteroid sprays reduce swelling that leads to runny noses or itchy, watery eyes; these sprays are available both over-the-air and with valid prescription. These powerful allergy medicines should be considered first-line therapy treatment when symptoms have caused significant reductions of their quality of life impact.
Your doctor may suggest mast cell stabilizers to stop your body from producing histamine, available as tablets and liquids and available both over-the-counter and via prescription. At UPMC specialists also provide allergy tests that can identify which allergens cause your symptoms: skin testing exposes you to small quantities of allergens to determine which ones trigger an allergy reaction; blood tests can also reveal them but their accuracy may differ significantly from skin testing.
Allergy shots
Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT), also known as allergy shots, involves injecting your body with small doses of allergens specific to your allergies in order to build immunity and alleviate symptoms or prevent conditions like asthma from emerging. Allergy shots can be beneficial both seasonal and indoor allergy sufferers as well as individuals with poorly managed asthma.
Allergen immunotherapy may take several months or years before its full benefits become evident. It typically begins with an initial build-up phase lasting six months during which the concentration of allergy shots gradually increases until reaching a maintenance dose; during this stage, allergy shots may be given weekly or biweekly before eventually transitioning to once every other week injections once stabilisation occurs.
At this phase of preparation, it’s vitally important that you inform your physician of any medications, herbs or supplements you are currently taking; some can interfere with allergy shots and increase the risk of reaction. Common local reactions of allergy shots include redness, swelling and itching at the injection site; while more serious reactions such as wheezing or chest tightness may less frequently arise; should these occur they must be addressed immediately.
Individuals suffering from heart disease or other medical conditions that impair immunity should avoid allergy shots; however, most recipients report seeing significant reduction in symptoms with continued treatments.
HEPA Air Filters
People living with allergies often turn to HEPA air filters in their homes in order to alleviate symptoms. HEPA filters work by trapping dust mites and other allergens before the HVAC system recirculates them around the home; additionally, vacuum cleaners equipped with HEPA filters also tend to put less dirt or mites back into the room when being used; this can make an enormous difference for those suffering from allergies.
These filters are usually constructed of PTFE or glass-fibre materials arranged as mats of random strands, and particles passing through are captured within its maze of strands, while VOCs from household items like hairspray or ammonia may also be removed from the air through their pores.
HEPA filters offer another great advantage compared to other forms of air purifiers: no harmful byproducts are released during their operation. Other air purifiers like ionizers and ozone emit harmful gases which can irritate lungs and cause other health complications.
An H13 medical-grade HEPA filter is often utilized in hospital environments as it is more efficient at eliminating microbes that threaten patient populations that are especially susceptible.
Talk to Your Doctor
Indoor allergies are best addressed by eliminating their triggers. This may involve changing your cleaning routine, restricting pet access in certain rooms and using medications like ZYRTEC-D as antihistamine/decongestant combination products; such medicines work by blocking histamine production that occurs during an allergic response and causes runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing and nasal congestion symptoms.
Symptoms that persist should always be discussed with a healthcare provider, especially if they become persistent. Allergy tests can be helpful in pinpointing what triggers allergies; especially if your symptoms cannot be linked directly with specific items like house dust mites or cats.
Mold spores can be the source of allergy symptoms year-round. If you are sensitive to mold spores, taking preventative steps such as keeping your home clean, controlling pests and dehumidifying can all help eliminate their growth in your home environment. Vacuuming regularly also plays an essential part in protecting against them.
Avoiding allergy symptoms may seem easy, but it is vital that you don’t. Untreated allergies can lead to other issues including asthma attacks and anaphylaxis; by following these tips you can enhance your quality of life and avoid discomfort caused by allergies.
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