Indoor Allergies
Posted on: 11/07/2011
By Jill Bernhardt, MS, RN, FNP
Brr, Turn up the Furnace, Start the sneezing
Have you ever wondered why you start sneezing and itching your eyes once it gets cold and the plants outside that are supposed to cause these symptoms look as dead as a 3000 year old mummy? If you are one of the 50,000 Americans who suffers from Perennial or indoor allergies, you know what I am talking about. When seasonal allergy suffers breathe a sigh of relief as the hard frost hits, perennial allergy sufferers begin the long trek of sneezing and congestion that comes from a sealed up house. What causes indoor allergies and is there anything you can do to make them more tolerable?
Most Common Indoor Allergens
There are 4 common causes of indoor allergies for most people: House dust, dust mites, mold, and animals. Each one of these is enough to cause allergy symptoms or can work together to produce those annoying allergy symptoms. Let’s take a minute to learn a little more about the causes individually.
House dust is a fact of life much like breathing and eating. If you live in a house, condo, apartment or tent, you have “house dust”. So what is house dust? House dust is a combination of many things and can consists of some combination of shed bits of human skin, animal fur, decomposing insects, food debris, pollens (like tree, grass, weed), dust mite feces, lint and organic fibers from clothes, bedding and other fabrics, tracked-in soil, soot, particulate matter from smoking and cooking.
Dust mites (sometimes called bed mites) are the most common cause of allergy from house dust. They belong to the family of eight-legged creatures called arachnids that also includes spiders, chiggers and ticks. Dust mites are hardy creatures that live and multiply easily in warm, humid places. They prefer temperatures at or above 70 degrees Fahrenheit with a relative humidity of 75 percent to 80 percent. They die when the humidity falls below 40 percent to 50 percent. They are not usually found in dry climates. They generally live in mattresses, pillows, and other fabric/carpet but become airborne when they are disturbed such as with walking or vacuuming.
Mold found indoors come from the outdoors. It is possible to see relatively high levels of molds inside if they are high outside. Any house can develop a mold problem given the right conditions. Certain molds, such as Aspergillus and Penicillium are more commonly found indoors. You might not see it growing on the walls, but it may still be present in your home.
Molds require two factors to grow indoors: (1) free moisture from condensation, leakage from pipes or foundations, or any ongoing source of water; and (2) something to grow on that provides them a food source. Molds particularly like to grow on wallboard, damp wood, fabrics, leather, and paper products. They can also grow on concrete or the dirt on windows or window frames. Food products, particularly vegetables, fruits, and breads provide a good place for mold to grow.
Molds spread by producing spores that can become airborne when they are disturbed directly or by air currents. These spores end up on surfaces where they grow. Dust from mold-contaminated houses can cause allergy symptoms if a person who is allergic to the mold inhales them. Some molds produce bad odors. These odors may be irritating (like any strong odors) without actually causing an allergic response.
Animals are another cause of indoor allergy symptoms but it is not their fur you are reacting to, it’s their skin and saliva. Pet urine is also a vector for allergen reaction. Fur is actually not found to be allergy causing on its own but it does tend to collect pollens, dust, and mold which can cause allergic reactions themselves.
Determining the cause of your allergies
It is annoying enough to deal with the obvious symptoms of allergies but there may be some other symptoms suffer with that you might not recognize as allergic reactions. Of the 50,000 Americans who suffer from indoor allergies, half complain of recurrent headaches, 80% say they suffer from fatigue, and 65% have irritability due to allergies. If you are shaking your head as you read off these symptoms, you could find relief by taking control of your allergies. But how do you know what you are allergic to if all of this stuff is found in every household? The best way is to be tested with skin tests to various common allergens that can cause the sneezing, itching and runny nose and eyes. To be skin tested you need to see a certified allergist (a doctor) who will review your allergy symptoms and when you notice that they occur. They will then test you with a varied but tailored panel of allergens to see if you develop local skin reactions when that skin is punctured with the allergen.
Tips for reducing allergy symptoms on your own
If you are waiting to see an allergist or want to get started on your own to decrease these allergens, here are a few more tips you can do right now to help decrease their effect on you.
1. Measure the indoor humidity and keep it below 55 percent. Do not use vaporizers or humidifiers. You may need a dehumidifier. Use vent fans in bathrooms and when cooking to remove moisture. Repair all water leaks. This will help to control dust mite and mold allergy. Excellent references regarding mold prevention and remediation can be found at http://www.epa.gov/mold and http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/epi/moldrpt1.shtml
2. Remove wall-to-wall carpets from the bedroom if possible. Use a central vacuum or a vacuum with a HEPA filter regularly. If you are allergic, wear a N95 filter mask while dusting, sweeping or vacuuming. Remember, it takes over two hours for the dust to settle back down, so if possible clean when the allergic patient is away and don't clean the bedroom at night. This will help with mold, animal and house dust mite allergies.
3. Keep pets out of the bedroom at ALL times. Consider using a HEPA Air Cleaner in the bedroom. It is best to remove the animal from the home but usually not practical unless an individual is severely allergic.
4. Encase mattresses and pillows with "mite-proof" covers. Wash all bed linens regularly using hot water. This will eliminate 84% of the dust mite allergy. These covers are available at most superstores such as Wal-Mart, Target, and Bed, Bath and Beyond. They are also available through online retailers such as Amazon.com and Overstock.com.
5. Do not leave out uncovered food at night. Dispose of food wastes (including fast food wraps) in a tightly sealed garbage can. This not only helps with mold allergy but keeps disease carrying critters away such as mice and cockroaches which can cause allergy symptoms too.
6. Install a high efficiency media filter with a MERV rating of 11 or 12 in the furnace and air-conditioning unit. Leave the fan on to create a "whole house" air filter that removes particulates. Change the filter at least every three months (with the change of the seasons) to keep the air cleaner year round. Have your heating and air-conditioning units inspected and serviced every six months. These steps can help with animal, mold and house dust mites allergies.
7. Wear a mask when cleaning to decrease the inhalation of the allergens as you are disturbing. Using an N95 filter mask available at most home improvement stores while cleaning with decrease the symptoms you have while allowing you to remove some of the allergens that you fight every day.
Seeking treatment for your body’s reaction to these allergens is the best way to fight them. Allergy injections and new allergy therapies are constantly being developed and tested to improve our arsenal against these symptoms. Make sure to check out our website for new allergy studies that will allow you the chance to try out one of these new developments and make a difference in all allergy sufferers’ lives. You can find us at www.aairresearch.com.