Indoor Allergies

Indoor allergies, also known as perennial allergic rhinitis, are triggered by indoor allergens that can last all year long. It is estimated that people are in their home 60% of the time. This leaving indoor allergens more time to gain access to your mucus lining.

House dust mites are the main culprit for those who suffer from indoor allergies. Depending on how old your house is, what you keep in your house and who lives in your home determines the type or amount of dust you will have. Most house dust is an airborne mixture of particles of soil, fabric fibers, dust mites, animal and human skin, mold spores, insect waste, food particles, and other remains.

Indoor allergy triggers include:

• Droppings of dust mites
• Pet dander
• Pet urine
• Fungi spores
• Cockroach debris
• Flour
• Drugs

Following this list is an explanation of each of the above triggers, how they affect us, why, and ways to avoid these triggers.

Dust Mites

Dust mites are the leading cause of indoor allergies and are too small to be seen by the naked eye. They measure a mere one-quarter to about one-third of a millimeter. They are whitish bugs that have eight legs and are considered arthropods; there are at least 13 species of dust mites. They have no respiratory system and no eyes. And these tiny creatures can create enormous problems on those who suffer from allergies as they are the most common cause for year-round allergies.

Dust mites spend most of their time eating, reproducing and eliminating waste products. They feed primarily on our dead skin that we shed daily. The skin that we shed normally lands on mattresses, furniture, carpets, bedding and stuffed animals, where they are most commonly found. They thrive in temperatures between 68 and 78 degrees. The female mite can lay up to 100 eggs in her cycle and it takes a mere 2-5 weeks for an egg to become an adult mite. Dust mites do not bite humans.

There is no way to completely rid your home of dust mites, but there are a few things you can do to lessen the effects of the symptoms. To prevent dust mites, start by covering mattresses, couches and pillows with dust-proof covers. Wash sheets, curtains, pillows, and blankets weekly in a temperature exceeding 130 degrees. Another way to keep dust mites out of your home is to reduce the humidity in your home; you can use a dehumidifier if you have one and/or an air conditioning system.

Animal Dander/Cockroach Allergies

Normally when people think about allergies they tend to focus their attention on things such as pollen, food or mold allergies. But indoor allergies caused by animal dander and cockroach allergies are just as common as all the rest.

In fact, cockroach allergies were first reported in 1943 when skin rashes developed after roaches crawled over a patient’s skin. Since that time there has been an increase of reported cases of allergies to cockroaches to 60% of asthma patients having sensitivity to cockroaches. Experts believe it is the feces, saliva, and the bodies of the cockroach that is the culprit for the allergic reaction.

Pet allergies are no different. Pet dander can be just as harmful to your symptoms as cockroaches are. Animal dander, not the animal’s hair, is what triggers a reaction in an allergic person’s body. And with nearly 100 million pets in the world there will be a time when we come in contact with one that will trigger our allergies. Just because you have an allergic reaction to a certain pet it does not mean that you are allergic to all the breeds of that species. For example you may be allergic to Dalmatians, but find that Yorkshire terriers do not trigger symptoms.

It will depend greatly on your sensitivity to animals as to the severity of your symptoms from indoor allergies. If you have low levels of sensitivity it could just be a stuffy nose, swollen eyes, and redness of the skin (if scratched by the animal). If you are highly sensitive to animal dandruff you could encounter coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.

Mold

The fungi known as mold can cause an allergic reaction to those sensitive to the spores that are released in the air. Mold allergy symptoms normally begin in July and last throughout the summer months. With the ability of the spores and mold to grow anywhere, it is possible to feel the effects of mold allergies all year.

Molds can grow anywhere that caters to its needs. Places that are wet, cool, dark and with high humidity is an ideal location for mold to grow a colony of thousands of spores. These spores are the very predator that lingers in the air, that we in turn inhale, and triggers our allergies to flare. These symptoms mirror that of other allergies and include sneezing, itching, nasal discharge, and dry scaling skin.

To prevent the symptoms of mold allergies try to avoid contact with the spores. Wear a mask when cutting grass, raking up leaves, and disturbing plants. Molds grow rapidly on these surfaces. You can also take medications to help with indoor allergy symptoms, such as antihistamines and decongestants, or you can talk to your doctor about allergy shots.

Indoor Allergy Solutions

With so many different things in our home that can make our indoor allergies flare up, it is important to keep our indoor air quality of the highest standard. Eradicating the source of the trigger is the best way to improve our allergy symptoms.

• Reduce the humidity. By reducing the humidity you stop the growth of mold and dust mites
• Prevent animal dander
• Use an air-purifier
• Decrease dust by dusting daily and vacuuming using a HEPA filter

Indoor allergies can be a thing of the past. Talk to your doctor about other ways you can keep yourself allergy free in your home.

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