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How Do You Know If You Have A Dust Allergy

Preventing Dust Mites Growth In Your Home

Allergy Advice : How to Improve Dust Allergies

Most people are oblivious to the presence of dust mites in their homes, as they are not displaying allergy symptoms. However, if youre one of the few who are highly sensitive to dust mites or the population of dust mites is so bad that it exceeds your tolerance level, youll need to take proactive steps to keep their numbers down.

Its essential that you seek medical treatment for the symptoms youre suffering, but without prevention measures, youre likely to suffer a relapse when the medicine wears off.

Here are some helpful strategies to keep dust mites away from your home.

Whats The Best Dust Allergy Treatment

Theres no specific dust allergy cure as such but you can definitely find treatment to manage the dust allergy symptoms.

Some options for dust allergy treatment or management are:

  • Opting for doctor-prescribed antihistamines

  • Check with the doctor on how to open up the nasal passages

In-addition to the medications mentioned above there are also few home remedies for dust allergy, they can provide some relief:

  • Herbal tea with honey can help in soothing an itchy throat.

  • Nasal washes

  • Steam

Is dust mite allergy prevention possible?

Dust particles and mites can be hard to keep at bay, but you can most definitely minimize their effects by taking proper measures.

  • Use airtight covers for pillows, mattresses and cushions to avoid any contact with the allergens

  • Every week wash all your bedding and covers in hot water with up to 130 degrees Fahrenheit . High temperature usually kills dust mites

  • Make sure your house is clean and dry

  • Mop the concrete floors with disinfectant and vacuum your house regularly

  • While dusting or vacuuming, wear a mask to avoid inhaling dust particles

Keeping the above points in mind, lets take a look at the most common queries every individual has about dust mite allergy:

Can dust allergy cause sore throat, headache, skin rash?

What If Avoiding Dust Mites Doesn’t Work For Me

If you follow these procedures to reduce your exposure to dust mites but allergy symptoms persist, your alIergist may recommend other treatment methods, such as medication or allergy shot treatments. Consult your allergist to determine the most effective treatment method for you, and you can gain control of your dust mite allergy and achieve relief from allergy symptoms.

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The Best In Allergy Treatment

Here at the ENT Institute, we offer same-day allergy tests that get you results in minutes. Whether its dust, pet dander, mold, or pollen, well use those results to create a treatment plan individualized for your needs.

Watch the videos below to learn more:

To schedule a same-day allergy test, call or click the button below.

Itchy Red Or Watery Eyes

How to Tell If You Have a Dust Allergy

Being allergic to dust and dust mites can also cause you to have itchy, red or watery eyes.

This is another natural defense your body conducts when it reacts to something sensitive in the environment.

When dust particles come into contact with mast cells on the eyes, the response is to release histamine and other chemicals that cause blood vessels to leak, which makes your eyes red, watery and itchy.

Unfortunately, these dust allergies symptoms are shared with other eye diseases and cold viruses.

Trying to diagnose an allergy to dust off of this one sign alone is not feasible.

However, if youre noticing it alongside symptoms #1 and #2, it just may likely be caused by an allergic reaction to dust .

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Allergy To Dust Mites

Dust mites are tiny insects that live indoors. They thrive in pillows, mattresses, box springs, blankets, rugs and carpets, “stuffed animals” and upholstered furniture such as couches. They also live in dusty areas like furnace ducts. They are so tiny that they are hard to see without a microscope.

Dust mites feed on organic matter such as flakes of skin. They love padded material and prefer humid conditions. Both the enzymes in their feces and their hard shells can cause allergy and asthma symptoms. When a person who is sensitive to the dust mite breathes in these particles, they can cause allergy symptoms, including sneezing, coughing, runny nose, congestion and itchy, watery eyes. Dust mites can also cause asthma symptoms, such as coughing or wheezing.

The best way to reduce allergy symptoms due to dust mites is to cover the bedding with special dust mite covers and remove as much dust as possible. Pay special attention to your child’s bedroom.

Mold And Mildew In Your Home

One of the giveaways for dust mites is the presence of mold and mildew. These fungi are a sign that the humidity in your home has exceeded the ideal range for humans, which falls around 45% 55%.

If much of your walls or ceilings are covered with mold and mildew, the humidity in your home is at least 75%. The over-concentrated of moisture in the air is also fitting for dust mites. To be sure, get a hygrometer and take the relative humidity reading.

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Dust Mite Allergy Symptom Relief

, and decongestants are all common treatments to ease dust mite allergy symptoms. Antihistamines block the chemical histamine which the body releases when it comes into contact with an allergen. Corticosteroids can help calm inflammation. Both can help to control the irritation in your nose. Decongestants can also help with your blocked nose but should only be taken for a limited time.

So How Do I Know If Its Sinus Or Allergies

Do you have a dust mite allergy? Vita Talalay latex in your mattress is the solution!

Allergies occur when your immune system reacts to an allergen like pollen or dust. A sinus infection, also known as sinusitis, occurs when the nasal passage gets infected. The conditions can have similar symptoms like congestion and stuffy nose, but the conditions are quite different.

Its possible to have allergies at any point in your life even though they tend to be most common during childhood. Its also possible for allergies to lead to a condition called allergic rhinitis. With this condition, itchy eyes is a common symptom in addition to the other symptoms caused by a sinus infection or allergies. If itchy eyes is one of your symptoms, then your condition likely isnt sinusitis and likely is allergies. However, if pain around your cheeks and eyes is a symptom youre having, or possibly thick, discolored mucus, then you likely have a sinus infection.

Its actually possible to have both conditions at the same time. This can cause even more confusion, so its often best to get professional testing and treatment.

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Action : Get Dust Mites Off The Floor

Dust mites enjoy carpets because of the warmth and protection carpets provide. As opposed to tile or wood flooring, carpets catch dirt. If you have a serious dust mite allergy you may want to consider getting rid of carpets and rugs, otherwise, frequent vacuuming is necessary and not just any vacuum will do.

When searching for a dust mite vacuum, make sure it has a HEPA filter. HEPA filters catch ultra-fine particulates including dust mites and their feces. Dust Mite Solutions ranked the best HEPA vacuums to choose from!

To remove dust on hard flooring, use a mop or something that traps dust. One of the things I hate most are brooms! Well, brooms push dust around and stir it up into the air.

Dust mites and other allergens are so lightweight that they become airborne quickly. A simple sweeping with a broom can cause 1000s of dust mite feces or pollen to enter their air. Once airborne they can stay suspended in the air for hours where we inhale and exhale.

The products I prefer to use on hard flooring are Swiffer products. Swiffer makes dusting on the floor easier with their Sweeper product , they also have a hand-held duster that traps dust on blinds and shelving .

Can You Test For A Sinus Infection Can You Test For Allergies

Its possible to test for a sinus infection, either with a nasal endoscopy or imaging. Testing for allergies is possible too, and with a skin prick test, a professional can determine which allergens youre allergic to. We can provide the necessary tests here at Allergy & Asthma Center and proceed with the appropriate treatment.

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Is It A Dust Allergy Or Just A Cold

The problem with a lot of the dust allergy symptoms covered above is they are very similar to a cold. In fact, the first symptoms many people use to gauge if they have a cold are a sore, scratchy throat and coughing.

To determine if you have a cold or a dust allergy, keep track of all your symptoms. Do you have a fever? If its a dust mite allergy, fever is very uncommon. Are you suffering from itchy and teary eyes or sneezing fits? Those arent typical symptoms of a cold.

Can Dust Allergies Lead To Asthma

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According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology , a dust allergy may trigger asthma. This only tends to occur in children, though, and not teens, adults, or seniors. Of course, if someone in your family already has asthma, then an undiagnosed allergy like a dust allergy can absolutely exacerbate symptoms.

Your first inclination may be to thoroughly wipe down the house, covering every nook and cranny. The ACAAI suggests not doing this. Kicking up all that dust and dirt from cleaning will only serve to increase the severity of dust mite allergy symptoms and may trigger an asthma episode as well.

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What Is A Dust Mite

A dust mite measures only about one-quarter to one-third of a millimeter. They are too small to see with your eyes alone. Under a microscope, they look like white bugs. They have eight legs, so they are not insects, but arthropods, like spiders.

Dust mites thrive in temperatures of 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit . They also like humidity levels of 70 to 80 percent. There are at least 13 species of mites. They are all well adapted to the environment inside your home. They feed mainly on the tiny flakes of human skin that people shed each day. These flakes work their way deep into the inner layers of furniture, carpets, bedding and even stuffed toys. These are the places where mites thrive. An average adult person may shed up to 1.5 grams of skin in a day. This is enough to feed one million dust mites!

What Causes A Dust Allergy

Despite the name, dust allergies are not caused by dust. Instead, the culprits are dust mites microscopic organisms that feed on dead skin cells.

These creatures cause a surprising amount of trouble considering their size. The dead body parts of mites, along with their waste, can trigger allergic reactions throughout the year. Its estimated over 65 million people suffer from a dust allergy, with symptoms such as itchy eyes, sneezing, a runny nose and .

The normal way to relieve an allergy is to avoid the allergen. This isnt possible with a dust allergy, as its impossible to get rid of every dust mite in a home. The average person sheds enough skin each day to feed millions of mites and they are resilient enough to live almost anywhere, including bedding, carpets, and curtains.

Instead of avoiding dust mites, the best way to relieve symptoms is to reduce the quantity in your home. Here are five tips that can quickly provide relief.

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Can Allergy Medicine Help

Over-the-counter and prescription allergy medicines are available to help control your allergy symptoms.

If dust mites are making your asthma symptoms worse, or if you are taking more of your asthma medicine than usual, talk to your doctor. He or she may want you to switch to a new medicine that can better control your symptoms.

What Is A Dust Mite Allergy

What are the causes of Allergy?

An allergen is a substance that causes an allergic reaction. Both the body parts and the waste of dust mites are allergens for many people. Most dust mites die in low humidity levels or extreme temperatures. But they leave their dead bodies and waste behind. These can continue to cause allergic reactions. In a warm, humid house, dust mites can survive all year.

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How Can I Prevent Allergic Reactions To Dust Mites

Remember, having dust mites doesnt mean your house isnt clean. In most areas of the world, these creatures live in every home, no matter how clean. But, you can reduce their effects. There are many changes you can make to your home to reduce the numbers of these unwanted guests.

Studies show that more dust mites live in your bedroom than anywhere else in your home. So this is the best place to start.

  • Cover mattresses and pillows in zippered dust-proof covers. These covers are made of a material with pores too small to let dust mites and their waste product through. They are also called allergen-impermeable. Plastic or vinyl covers are the least expensive, but some people find them uncomfortable. You can buy other fabric allergen-impermeable covers from many regular bedding stores.
  • Wash your sheets and blankets weekly in hot water. You have to wash them in water thats at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit or more to kill dust mites.
  • Get rid of all types of fabric that mites love and that you cannot easilywash regularly in hot water. Avoid wall-to-wall carpeting, curtains, blinds, upholstered furniture and down-filled covers and pillows in the bedroom. Put roll-type shades on your windows instead of curtains.
  • Special CERTIFIED filter vacuum cleaners can help to keep mites and mite waste from getting back into the air. CERTIFIED vacuums are scientifically tested and verified as more suitable for making your home healthier.

What You Can Do

  • Write down any symptoms you’re experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to allergy-like symptoms.
  • Write down your family’s history of allergy and asthma, including specific types of allergies if you know them.
  • Make a list of all the medications, vitamins or supplements you’re taking.
  • Ask if you should stop taking any medications that would affect the results of an allergy skin test. Antihistamines, for example, could suppress your allergy symptoms.

Preparing a list of questions will help you make the most of your time together. For symptoms that may be related to dust mite allergy, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

  • What is the most likely cause of my signs and symptoms?
  • Are there any other possible causes?
  • Will I need any allergy tests?
  • Should I see an allergy specialist?
  • What is the best treatment?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage these conditions together?
  • Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you’re prescribing for me?
  • What changes can I make at home to reduce my exposure to dust mites?
  • Of the changes you’ve described, which are the most likely to help?
  • If the first round of drug treatments and environmental changes we’ve discussed don’t help, what will we try next?
  • Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home? What websites do you recommend?

In addition to the questions that you’ve prepared to ask your doctor, don’t hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.

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Will The Immunity We Have Acquired Be Able To Protect Us From Dangerous Symptoms

Even if the antibodies fail to counteract the Omicron, T cells and other antibodies we’ve developed thanks to the vaccine and previous infection, may offer us some protection from developing dangerous symptoms.

This means that higher rates of infection will not necessarily lead to higher rates of death and hospitalization, as happened in previous waves.

However, to measure this accurately requires collecting data from health institutions and epidemiological studies centers after a period of time.

The authors explain that it usually takes several weeks for serious symptoms to appear after infection with the Covid-19 virus, which is why deaths and critical cases in the hospital are called the late indicator.

Therefore, there is no harm in feeling optimistic, and we see all reports indicating that the vaccinated people show only mild symptoms, but we must be aware that accurate and reliable information about the seriousness of this disease does not appear so quickly.

For example, it may be found later that Omicron causes mild symptoms in vaccinated and previously infected persons, but it may threaten the lives of those without any immunity to it.

This may again lead to overcrowding of hospitals and the collapse of the health system.

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Are Dust Mite Allergies Seasonal

How To Know If You Have Dust Mites (Dust Mites Pictures)

Allergen levels are at their highest between May and October, the peak breeding season of house dust mites. Most of the mites die during the winter, but the allergen-containing dust is stirred up by heating systems. This often causes the symptoms experienced by affected patients year-round to worsen during the winter.

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Problems In The Bedroom It May Be Your Allergies

Coughing, sneezing, snifflingif youre an allergy sufferer, you know the drill. Whats worse is dealing with itchy, red eyes and sneezing in the bedroom, the one room in your home that should be a haven.

Did you know bedrooms can cause some of the worst exposure for allergy sufferers? It may surprise you where pesky allergens are hiding. Dont let allergy symptoms ruin a good nights rest. Learn more about common bedroom allergies and what you can do to avoid them.

Why the Bedroom?

The bedroom is home to a slew of allergens including dust mites, pet dander, chemicals, dust, and molds. Here you may spend 6-8 hours a day sleeping, getting ready for the day, or simply relaxingwhich means you have a longer exposure to microscopic critters and particles that cause allergies and allergy-like symptoms.

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