Half the battle of treating indoor allergies is recognizing you have them, says allergist Asriani Chiu, MD and professor of pediatrics and allergy/immunology, in Wisconsin. An estimated 50 million Americans are allergic to everything from dust and dander, to mold and mites. Allergy symptoms are hard to pinpoint because they often mimic cold symptoms.
Typical indoor allergy symptoms include:
- Runny nose with watery, clear secretions.
- Itchy eyes.
- Symptoms that linger for weeks.
Cold symptoms differ from allergies in the following ways:
- Nasal secretions are discolored (green or yellow).
- A cold sufferer has chills and body aches.
- Symptoms linger for 7 to 10 days.
For indoor allergies there are 5 common triggers:
- DUST. Dust is made up of dozens of things including tiny bits of plants, skin, soil, insects, food, fibers, and animal matter. Any one of these can trigger allergy symptoms.
- DUST MITES. Dust mites thrive on dust and their droppings are the most common trigger of allergy and asthma symptoms. Dust mites can be found all over the house. They concentrate in areas rich with human dander (dead skin flakes) and high humidity such as bedrooms, carpets and bathroom rugs.
- MOLD. Mold and mildew thrive in high humidity in bathrooms and basements. Once they take hold mold and mildew shed tiny spores. The spores trigger indoor allergy symptoms.
- PET DANDER. Pet allergies are not actually caused by the dog or cat’s hair/fur itself. The cause is a tiny protein in the animal’s saliva, triggering the symptoms. Pet dander is sticky and light and can cling to clothes, shoes and hair. That’s why even a home or business where no pets are present can contain pet dander and trigger allergy symptoms.
- COCKROACHES. Like dust, cockroaches can be found almost anywhere. As with pets, it’s not the roach itself that triggers allergy symptoms. Instead, the allergen is a protein found in the droppings.
There is no “cure” for indoor or outdoor allergies but there are ways to manage your symptoms once you know your triggers. There are two ways to narrow down what is triggering your indoor allergies- trial and error and allergy testing. For trial and error, search for patterns. Where were you when the symptoms were triggered? What were you doing? Has the scenario repeated itself?
A visit with an allergist can cut through the guessing games of the trial and error method of finding your triggers. An allergist will diagnose your allergies in three ways- personal and medical history; an examination paying special attention to eyes, nose, throat, chest, ears and skin; and skin, patch or blood tests. Skin tests are the most accurate and least expensive way to confirm suspected allergens. Results can take as little as twenty minutes and show up as redness, swelling and itching at the site of the scratch or needle prick. For patch tests, your doctor places a potential allergen on your skin and covers it with a bandage. You are checked for a reaction 48 hours later. If a rash has developed, you are allergic. Blood (RAST) tests are used when skin testing is not possible, such as if you are taking certain medications or have a skin condition to start with. A blood sample is taken and sent to a lab. The lab adds the suspected allergen to your blood sample and measures how many antibodies your blood makes to attack the allergen.
Once you have identified your allergy triggers there are ways to avoid or manage the symptoms. Dr. Chiu says, “Avoidance is the best way to treat any allergies.” Avoid exposure to as many allergens as possible. If you are allergic to your cat or dog, ban him/her from your bedroom. If you have a dust mite allergy, remove carpet and upholstered furniture from your home. If you don’t want to give up your beloved pet or tear up your carpet you can control the severity of your symptoms by controlling your indoor environment:
- Choose hardwood floors or ceramic tile instead of carpeting. If you still want carpeting choose low-pile or unpadded material.
- Use area rugs to a minimum. Choose washable, low pile rugs.
- Use window blinds (the old fashioned pull downs) or smooth vertical blinds instead of heavy drapes, horizontal blinds, or material covered blinds to minimize landing spots for dust.
- Wash sheets, blankets and pillows in hot water (at least 130 degrees) and dry on high to kill dust mites.
- Remove laundry promptly from the washing machine to discourage mold and mildew.
- Use hypoallergenic bedding that’s designed to be less permeable to allergens.
- Keep your bedroom off-limits to pets.
- Brush your pets regularly and outside if possible (a Jody Victor® suggestion).
- Avoid jungle conditions in your house. Don’t over water houseplants.
- Keep your house below 50 percent humidity to prevent mold growth. Install a dehumidifier in your basement and in other areas of your house where moisture tends to collect.
- Use a fan and/or window to exhaust warm, moist air from your bathroom (a Jody Victor® suggestion).
- Wash shower curtains and bathroom tiles regularly with mold-killing solutions.
- Repair leaks and drips in bathrooms to keep surfaces dry.
- Use fans at a minimum. Fans help circulate dust and allergens. Use air-conditioning instead and change air filters regularly.
- Invest in a good strong vacuum with a well-filtered containment system. When used often, vacuums can remove particles of every kind before they become airborne.
- Sweep, dust or vacuum outside entryways to avoid tracking allergens inside.
- Keep pollen and pollutants outside by caulking and sealing all your doors, windows, air conditioners and vents.
- Wipe your shoes well on a stiff-brush doormat before going inside. Exchange them for a pair of house-only shoes.
- Keep car windows closed when you park it outside of the garage (a Jody Victor® suggestion).
- Keep areas close to your house free of organic debris. Rotting vegetation is a great breeding ground for mold and mildew.
- Look for insect-pollinated flowers for your landscaping needs. These types of flowers, shrubs, and trees rely on insects for cross-pollination, not wind-blown pollen grains.
- No matter how clean you keep your home, roaches are sneaky. They can enter your home in all sorts of ways- like in the box your new humidifier came in. Control roaches with traps, bait, and pesticide sprays. If you use pesticides, spray when no one is home and air the house out well afterward.
All the Best!!