What Could Be Causing Allergies In My House
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. Also question is, how do you find out what you are allergic to in your home?
Often an allergist will need to conduct a skin test to determine exactly what is triggering an allergic reaction. Skin tests involve using a small, sterile probe to prick the skin with extracts from common allergens, such as tree pollen and pet dander, and observing the reaction.
Similarly, how do I get rid of allergens in my home?
Beside this, why am I suddenly allergic to my house?
The main cause of indoor allergies or home fever are house dust mites. The allergen that triggers most allergic reactions is the mite droppings. These can collect in pillows, mattresses, duvets, upholstery and carpets. Other common causes of indoor allergies include allergens from animals and from mould spores.
How do you get rid of allergens in a room?
Below, eight ways to do it.
When To See A Specialist
Did you know that you are not able to sneeze when you are asleep? This means that one of the most important ways of ridding your body from allergens, sneezing, is unavailable while you sleep. This can lead to a worsening of symptoms that will wake you up.
Keeping your sleeping environment, your body, and your sleep clothes clear from allergens certainly cannot hurt you and often is enough to give you a comfortable nights sleep. But, for some, it isnt enough and the only available option is allergy medication.
If your allergies are making it difficult to sleep at night, contact Carolina Asthma and Allergy Center today. Since 1952, Carolina Asthma and Allergy Center has served the Charlotte metropolitan area. Today, the center has 12 offices in and around Charlotte. All the 14 allergists at the center are board certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. To make an appointment at an office near you call 704-372-7900.
What Is An Allergen
Everybody knows what allergies are, but when it comes to breaking down the actual mechanics of what causes allergies and their symptoms in the human body there will be many gaps. To understand how allergies work or develop inside of a person, you first will need to comprehend the underlying cause of allergies, which are allergens. According to AAAAI, allergens are usually considered as harmless substances that when they enter into the human body will trigger a response that originates in the immune system and will produce an allergic reaction . When this reaction is elicited in the bodys immune system, it will also trigger the production of antibodies called IgE that works to defend your body against the allergen.
Some of the most common allergens, that most people are aware of will include dust, dust mites, pet dander, mold, pollen, etc. These various allergens can be produced in both indoor and outdoor environments, depending on the specific allergen, and no matter where the allergen is created it can easily be spread from different environments through the air thus, the reason behind seasonal allergy symptoms inside of your home.
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Outdoor Allergens Come Inside
Even if your house is sealed properly, outdoor allergens can also come indoors with every window or door opening, and every time you bring in items from the outdoors. If you have outdoor allergies from trees or grasses, you can easily tract these allergens into your home in your clothing and shoes. If you have a pet, they can also bring allergens in on their coats, even if you arenât allergic to the pet itself! Even your clothing and shoes can pick up allergens and bring them inside.
Here are some basic tips to reduce allergens coming inside your home:
- Remove shoes when you come inside
- Place door mats both inside and outside all doors
- Change and wash clothes after outdoor activities before sitting down on sofas, etc.
- Check pollen counts daily and manage your days outside around high pollen days
- Use a nasal rinse to flush out allergens after being outside
Could Your Dog Be Allergic To Your House
Allergies can be a common and unwelcome problem for humans an immune system overreaction to substances that are usually harmless which can cause sneezing, wheezing, watery eyes and itching. Allergies can also affect our pet dogs. Our four-legged friends can be allergic to all sorts of things, from chemicals in cleaning products to pollen, dust, fleas and even smoke from cooking.
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What Are Dust Mites
Dust mites, which were discovered in 1964, are microscopic arachnids . They are about 1/3 mm in length and are not visible to the naked eye. They have eight legs, are blind, and naturally live indoors. Their presence does not indicate that the house is dirty. This is because usual cleaning procedures, such as vacuuming and dusting, do not eliminate them.
Dust mites have “sticky” pads at the ends of their legs that help them to firmly attach to fibers, which allow them to live deep within carpeting, upholstery, and mattresses. Most of the mites found in houses are from the Dermatophagoides family, with pteronyssinus and farinae being the most common species. Fortunately, dust mites do not bite, spread disease, or actually live on humans.
Clean Your House Regularly
Vacuuming with a HEPA filter at least once a week will also cut down on indoor allergens such as dust mites and pet dander. When dusting around your books and knick-knacks, use a microfiber or electrostatic cloth that will hold the dust instead of just moving it around. While you are dusting and vacuuming, dust will get stirred up in the air so, if you are allergic, use an N95 filter mask while cleaning.
When possible, we recommend avoiding wall-to-wall carpeting, especially in bedrooms. Hardwood floors are easier to clean, simply because you can see the dust when cleaning, however, you can also use washable area rugs to help cut down on allergens.
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Trustworthy House Cleaning Service Available In Auburndale And The Surrounding Areas
If youve found yourself walking through Kissena Corridor Park, reading this blog post, and thinking to yourself: all of this seems just too difficult. Dont worry, we have a solution.
Swipe N Clean is a local house cleaning business that works with experienced cleaners to bring you the best cleaning service. Leave all of your allergens and general cleaning problems to us and enjoy your free time. Contact us today and book yourself an appointment!
Keep The Bedroom An Allergy Safe Zone
According to Dr. Reinhardt, the most important place to get rid of allergens is in the bedroom. Most people spend six to 12 hours in the bedroom sleeping, so it is important to make this a “safe zone.” But removing allergens is sometimes easier said than done.
Let’s say you have a pet dander allergy. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, this might mean that you just need to keep your pet out of the bedroom, or you may need to regularly deep-clean the room thoroughly to get rid of residual pet dander, including all of your bedding. Steam cleaning and dry cleaning may be necessary. If these measures fail, and your allergies don’t improve, it may be necessary to find a new home for your pet if you’re really sufferinglet your healthcare provider be your guide.
Removing other allergens may be easier : dust mites, for example, can be controlled by diligent cleaning, again, especially in the bedroom. This includes curtains, blinds, and all bedding. Some sources recommend encasing your bedding in a plastic or rubber wrapping. It is also important to dehumidify your home, since dust mites thrive in humid environments.
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Why Are Homes So Polluted
Of concern for individuals with asthma and allergies: the most common problems were high levels of particle allergens and chemical pollutants.
Poor indoor air quality has been linked to a number of health effects. Chemicals and airborne allergens can trigger wheezing, shortness of breath, itchy eyes and runny noses. Nitrogen dioxide, from second-hand smoke and unvented gas stoves and furnaces, leads to eye, nose and throat irritation as well as respiratory infections in young children.
Formaldehyde can cause breathing distress and can nauseate, as can pesticides. Some chemicals, in instances of high-level exposure, can be cancer-causing.
So how did our homes get so polluted? The North American lifestyle is much to blame. We spend on average about 90 per cent of our time indoors, and 65 per cent of our time in our own residences. Home air is what we breathe most often, and which we readily pollute with products used to keep ourselves primped and our homes polished.
Anything with an added scent from shampoo to laundry detergent, fabric softener and all-purpose cleanser releases chemicals that hang on you and your clothes and linger in the air. That bouquet of lemon or citrus in products used to make our home sparkle in some cases will also mask dangerous chemicals in the cleaner, such as formaldehyde and ammonia.
Then we shower often and dont always use exhaust fans when cooking, creating humid environments in which mold and dust mites thrive.
A Few Words About Pets
Pets also spend more time indoors during the winter, shedding dander throughout every nook and cranny in the house. And if your pets need to go outside routinely, outside contaminants and allergens are tracking back inside your home where they become trapped.
Some people are just allergic to a type of animal, and being around that animal triggers their symptoms. However, many people mistakenly blame the animals fur for this reaction. Its not the hair of the animal but the allergens in the animals saliva, urine or dander.
If your pet has fur, you should try to bathe them at least once a week with a natural shampoo and brush them outdoors as often as possible.
Try to keep your pets out of your bedroom or enclosed living spaces and vacuum carpets regularly to remove allergens.
After touching or being licked by a pet, washing your hands and face can help keep your allergies from triggering.
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Other Tips For Lessening Nighttime Allergies And Getting Better Sleep
Here are some of our top tips for getting your night allergies under control and your sleep back on track:
- If you think its indoor mold thats worsening your nighttime allergies, make sure you have adequate ventilation in every room of the house. This goes double for kitchens, bathrooms, and basements, where humidity levels can change more often.
- For indoor mold allergies, you also want to use dehumidifiers in the above rooms, as these keep too much moisture from forming.
- Make sure your home doesnt have any pipes or roof seals with leaks. If you spot these, get them repaired.
- For those with cockroach allergies, call an exterminator. They can tell you if there are any upstairs gaps where cockroaches can get into your bedroom. For instance, they may squeeze in through a window, a crack in the wall, or a small crevice.
- After youre done spending time with your pet, change clothes and wash the ones you wore while spending time with your animal. Dont bring clothes into your bedroom unless theyre clean.
- If you have a dust mite allergy, wash your sheets and other bedding at a high temperature, at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit. The hot water will help remove any lingering mites.
- Make sure you change and clean your bedding every week to keep dust mites away.
- Get plastic or fabric covers for your pillows, box spring, and mattresses so dust mites cant get into your bed.
What About Allergies To Molds
Symptoms of hay fever and asthma can be caused by the inhalation of the spores of molds. Molds, or fungi, tend to grow on wet surfaces, either indoors or outdoors. The body of the mold produces spores or seeds, which are smaller than pollen and less potent as allergens. Large amounts of mold spores can be found in the air, especially in the spring and fall. They are usually most abundant at night, especially when it is damp, foggy, or during the rainy season.
Outdoor molds thrive in the soil, grass, dead leaves, haystacks, barns, and stables. They are often found in greater concentration when a hedge is located against a house, especially in shady areas. Spores from outdoor fungi typically enter the house through opened windows and doors.
Indoor molds can proliferate in bathrooms, especially in the shower stalls, damp cellars, drains, potted plants, closets, attics, house foundations, crawl spaces, and sealed-off rooms. A “musty” smell often radiates from these areas. On indoor plants, it is often the mold overgrowth and not the flowers that cause allergy.
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Keep Your Carpet And Rugs Clean
Studies have shown up to 85 percent of dust, dander, and pollen comes in on the bottom of shoes. And while carpets can help keep your floors warm and comfortable, they tend to exacerbate indoor allergies. They can trap irritants like pet dander, dust, and pollen, only to re-release them again every time someone walks on the carpet. Worse yet, its virtually impossible to vacuum up particles that become trapped in the carpet.
If you have carpet, be sure to vacuum at least once a week with a HEPA-certified vacuum. Consider having your carpet professionally cleaned at least once a year. Try placing a small, washable mat near your door to help trap dust, pollen, and other irritants before they are tracked into your living space.
Choosing An Attic Insulation Contractor
When selecting insulation for your attic, its always recommended that you reach out to an experienced professional for guidance. Knowing all the options and the information about those options can only make you more comfortable and secure in paying the money to insulate your home.
Here at Dr. Energy Saver, we have a large network of contractors across the continental US and Canada. Our dealers are real, local contractors with the experience and training to do the job right.
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What Can I Do
If you think your home may be causing health issues for you and your family, getting your Hayward Score is a great way to begin your journey. It will identify the areas in your home that are the likely source of problems and give you actionable steps to address each one. Even if you cant tackle all of them at once, every step you take will be a positive one!
For more information, read our article The Basics of A Healthy Home or visit the EPAs guide on Indoor Air Quality.
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Recruit A Cleaning Detective
Recruit your favorite cleaning detectives and have them investigate different areas of the house to determine what needs cleaning up. After inspecting a room, they can list out if a bed is unmade or if thereâs a toy on the floor, for example. This is a fun and creative way to have children help create a chore list and identify messes.
Since weâre exposed to allergies almost every day, itâs important to stay on top of allergy prevention, especially if you or a family member are prone to allergic reactions. Leaving allergies unattended can be problematic as symptoms can worsen over time, so keep a close eye on how exposure to allergens may be affecting a loved one.
If the above allergy-proofing tips did not eliminate your or your familyâs allergy symptoms it may be time to take an indoor and outdoor home allergy test, or speak with your healthcare provider to discuss options.
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Where Are Allergens Found In The Home
Indoor allergens tend to be concentrated in the areas where we spend the most time. So, the bedroom and living room are likely the top allergen hotspots in many homes. Dust mites, pollen, and pet dander can accumulate in soft surfaces mattresses, pillows, carpet, and window treatments and can lead to uncontrollable dust in your house.
Basements are also known to harbor mold, irritants, and dust, particularly in climates that are prone to dampness and flooding. And, the bathroom, an area of high-humidity from showers and baths and poor ventilation, is an ideal breeding ground for mold.
Why Am I Getting More Allergies As I Get Older
Why does this happen? It isnt exactly clear why allergies might develop in adulthood. Researchers believe that a severe allergic reaction during childhood , even a single episode of symptoms, can increase your likelihood of developing allergies as an adult when youre re-exposed to that allergen at higher levels.
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What Are Symptoms And Signs Of Reactions To Indoor Allergens
Indoor allergens can cause symptoms in susceptible people. Seasonal allergic rhinitis can be caused by indoor allergens and manifests as nasal congestion, runny nose, watering of the eyes, sneezing, and postnasal drip. Symptoms of asthma, including wheezing or difficulty breathing, can also occur in susceptible individuals.
Allergic reaction to indoor allergens can also cause conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the lining membranes of the eyes. Symptoms of this condition include red, watery, and itching eyes.
Allergic symptoms involving the skin include eczema, or allergic dermatitis, characterized by a skin rash associated with itching. This usually results from direct contact with the allergen.
