Allergies cause watery eyes, runny nose and an itchy throat. Pollen from trees, grasses and weeds as well as indoor allergens like pet dander, dust mites, mold spores or even cockroach parts may trigger allergies in susceptible individuals.
Nonseasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis refers to allergy symptoms present throughout the year and usually caused by indoor allergens.
Dust mites
Dust mites are tiny insect-like pests that inhabit bedding, mattresses, upholstered furniture and carpeting. They feed off dead skin flakes (dander) shed by people and pets that fall onto these surfaces, such as people’s bodies and pets’ fur. Dust mite fecal pellets and body fragments are allergens which may trigger allergy symptoms including sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes; antihistamines, decongestants or corticosteroid nasal sprays may help relieve these symptoms.
As soon as these particles enter your system, your immune system recognizes them as invaders and reacts by producing antibodies known as immunoglobulin E (IgE). Once in circulation, these chemicals travel to cells where histamines are produced – the chemicals responsible for producing symptoms such as sneezing, runny nasal passages, and itchy eyes.
Many of us experience these symptoms throughout the year, though their intensity tends to increase during warm and humid weather. Indoor allergens that could trigger these reactions include cockroaches, mold and pet dander.
An allergy blood test is an easy way to identify dust mite allergies. Your healthcare provider will draw a small sample of blood from your arm, then send it off to a laboratory where IgE antibodies against dust mite proteins will be measured. If high levels of IgE antibodies exist in your system, that confirms an allergy. Alternatively, skin prick tests and skin prick tests may be administered by applying tiny drops of allergen onto one arm at once and watching for swelling, reddening and raised spots that resemble bug bites – giving rise to additional diagnosis of dust mite allergies.
Pet dander
Pet allergies are caused by proteins found in small pieces of skin (dander) shed by cats, dogs and other furry animals with feathers or scales such as birds. These allergens can also be found in saliva and urine of these creatures; their tiny and lightweight particles float freely through the air for hours before landing on furniture, bedding and fabrics within homes as well as items brought into and out of them.
Many people believe they are allergic to specific breeds of cat or dog; in reality they’re actually reacting to proteins present in their dander. Therefore no “hypoallergenic” breed is truly safe – even short-haired or low-shedding pets may trigger symptoms in certain people. If this applies to you, an allergist/immunologist can offer treatments such as immunotherapy that gradually increases dosage of pet allergen to teach your immune system how to cope with it more effectively.
Re-homing beloved family pets is often necessary if allergy symptoms become severe. Your allergist/immunologist can advise on alternate non-allergenic pets like fish, reptiles or birds; and ways to reduce the dander levels in your home such as eliminating wall-to-wall carpeting, vacuuming frequently and steam cleaning fabric furniture.
Mold
Mold (also referred to as mildew or household fungus) is a type of fungi that thrives in moist environments and can cause indoor allergies. Mold reproduces by sending out tiny, lightweight spores through the air that settle on surfaces with favorable temperature, moisture levels and nutrients; they often mistaken for pollen particles, and may trigger allergic rhinitis or asthma in those sensitive to them.
Spores of mold can be released into the air when an organism disturbs an existing colony of it – for instance by opening windows and doors – disrupting it further and entering your home via bathrooms, basements, kitchens and damp areas such as crawl spaces or attics. Once inside your house they can reestablish colonies which most often occur in bathrooms, basements and kitchens. Furthermore, watering plants or flooding damp spaces around your house could release them further as well.
Mold allergy symptoms are similar to those caused by other allergens, like pet dander or dust mites. Their severity will depend on how many mold spores you inhale over time and the length of exposure.
Allergy medications can help alleviate symptoms, but one of the best ways to control indoor allergies are small home repairs, increased cleaning, and running a dehumidifier. Furthermore, it’s wise to limit how many houseplants you own while opting for unscented cleaning products.
Pollen
Pollen allergies can produce symptoms such as itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing and congestion. While grass and flower allergies tend to last year-round, pollen allergies often persist year-round as their source is indoor allergens like dust mites, mold spores, animal/insect dander and cockroach parts that enter through air ducts into homes.
Every spring, summer and fall (and occasionally during some states’ winter seasons) trees, grasses and weeds release pollen grains into the environment to fertilize other plants of their species and trigger anemophilous reproduction, often leading to allergic rhinitis (hay fever) symptoms in people suffering from allergies.
Pollen grains are so small they can only be seen under magnified magnification. Pollen particles may be carried by wind or insects and cause symptoms in those suffering from allergies to react badly when inhaled through their nasal passages and eyes.
If you suspect pollen is to blame for your symptoms, visit your physician immediately. They can conduct either a skin prick test or specific IgE blood test to identify allergens which trigger your reactions and recommend medications or immunotherapy (which alters immune response to reduce allergy symptoms) treatments as necessary.
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