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Environmental Control for Indoor Allergens

Patients Educational Materials Environmental Control

Environmental Control for Indoor Allergens

House dust contains a variety of allergens such as insect parts, animal dander, and dust mites. Furthermore, mold may also be present in homes. It is important to eliminate as much allergen as possible from the home in order to derive maximum benefit from your treatment.

House Dust Mite is probably the most important allergen in most homes. Controlling house dust mite exposure will decrease symptoms in allergic patients and may decrease the risk of developing dust mite allergy in patients not yet sensitized. Dust mites are tiny microscopic creatures that thrive in warm, moist climates. Upholstery (particularly the bed) is the ideal habitat for dust mites because they need the protection of the padding and a food supply (shed human skin) to survive. They cannot thrive on non-porous surfaces or in cool dry climates.

There are simple things you can do to minimize dust mite exposure:

  • You should concentrate on the bedroom (particularly the bed) because this is where you spend most of your time. In fact, when you are sleeping, you are breathing with your mouth and nose inches from a whole army of dust mites. The bedroom should be clutter free.
  • Dusting should be done frequently with a damp cloth.
  • The humidity in the bedroom should be kept below 50%. In Central Oklahoma this generally requires only air condition, but may require a de-humidifier. Humidifiers encourage dust mite and mold growth and should be avoided.
  • The mattress, box spring and pillow should be encased in dust mite proof encasements. All items on the bed should be washed in hot water (140 degrees) every one to two weeks. Stuffed animals should be removed from the bed.
  • Upholstered furniture and wall to wall carpet contain dust mites and should be avoided if possible, but these are not nearly as important as the bed.
  • Air filters, expensive vacuum cleaners, and duct cleaning help only minimally. When vacuuming, a HEPA filter or double bag should be used to minimize dust mites being stirred up and released into the air.

Cockroaches are now recognized as important indoor allergens. Other insects such as lady bugs, spiders, and crickets have recently been implicated. Keep the home clean and dry and fix any leaks or drips. It may be necessary to have an exterminator treat the home periodically.

Animal dander, generally from cats and dogs (but sometimes from gerbils, hamster, guinea pigs, mice, etc.) is a very important source of allergen in dust. Contrary to popular belief, animal hair is not the problem. Rather, it is a protein in the urine, saliva and dander of animal that provokes allergy. There are no “nonallergenic” furred pets. Some individual animals produce more allergen than others but there are no “safe” breeds.

  • The best thing you can do if you are allergic is to eliminate the pet.
  • Keeping the animal outside is only a partial solution because people who handle the animals outside will bring the allergen in on their clothes.
  • If you cannot eliminate the pet, try to keep the pet in non-upholstered areas and never let the pet in the bedroom. A HEPA filter in the bedroom may provide some protection.
  • Bathing the animals weekly may decrease the amount of allergen they produce.
  • After the animal has been removed, it can take as long as a year for allergen levels in the home to drop significantly, so a good thorough cleaning of the home is necessary after eliminating the animal.

Recently some information has come to light which suggests that if you are not already allergic it may actually be helpful to have cats or dogs in the home. However, if you are already pet allergic having the pets around will only worsen your allergic symptoms.

Indoor Mold can also cause significant allergic respiratory symptoms. Homes with high humidity and/or leaks have a high likelihood of having significant indoor molds. Once these issues have been fixed, it is generally easy to eliminate molds, but if you continue to have problems with water leaks or high humidity, you will have a hard time cleaning up your mold. Use a cleaning solution containing 5% bleach and a small amount of detergent to clean up moldy areas. Performing house dust control measures will help as well.

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AAFA’s 2024 Allergy Capitals™ report names most challenging cities for living with allergies, OKC – Fifth; Tulsa – Sixth in the top Ten

Washington D.C., March 14, 2024 — The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) released its 2024 Allergy Capitals™ report detailing the most challenging cities in the United States for living with allergies. The full report can be found at allergycapitals.com.

This year, Wichita, Kansas takes the top spot due to its higher-than-average tree and grass pollen, higher-than-average medicine use, and limited access to allergy specialists. The top 10 Allergy Capitals™ for 2024 are: 1. Wichita, KS; 2. Virginia Beach, VA; 3. Greenville, SC; 4. Dallas, TX; 5. Oklahoma City, OK; 6. Tulsa, OK; 7. Richmond, VA 8. Des Moines, IA; 9. Raleigh, NC, and 10. Fayetteville, AR.

This year’s report again calls attention to the urgency of the climate crisis. Due to climate change, growing seasons start earlier and last longer than they did just 30 years ago. Some parts of the United States now experience pollen (tree, grass, or weed) year-round. Warmer temperatures also trap heat in urban areas, increase air pollution, and stimulate pollen production.

“Climate change fuels a perfect storm of conditions that make allergy season worse for people with pollen allergy,” said AAFA President and CEO Kenneth Mendez. “Longer growing seasons mean more exposure to pollen allergy triggers. Additionally, pollen counts tend to rise with warmer temperatures. Now, we see both more days of exposure to pollen and higher daily pollen counts leading to more intense, longer-lasting symptoms.”

AAFA’s 2024 Allergy Capitals™ report provides insight into factors impacting seasonal allergies. The report ranks the 100 most populous cities in the contiguous United States by their:

  • Tree, grass, and weed pollen scores
  • Over-the-counter allergy medicine use
  • Availability of board-certified allergists/immunologists 

Experts say a range of treatment options are available for people dealing with seasonal allergies this spring.

“Over-the-counter medicines can help manage symptoms,” said allergist Dr. Neeta Ogden, spokesperson for AAFA. “Working with a specialist can help you develop the best treatment plan.”

While the symptoms of pollen allergy can be managed, they are a significant health concern. Seasonal allergies can even lead to hospitalization if they trigger an asthma episode.

“Our pollen season continues to begin earlier each year,” said Dr. Claire Atkinson, a board-certified allergist with the Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma Clinic (OAAC). “We’ve already had several allergy alert days this year and we’ve not even made it to the official start of Spring. We want to encourage people who are suffering to see their medical provider and consider making an appointment with an allergist.”

A board-certified allergist can diagnose allergies, and determine the specific triggers that cause them, through simple tests. The allergists at OAAC evaluate and manage patients of all ages. The main clinic is on the Oklahoma Health Center campus. For patient convenience, satellite offices are in Edmond, Norman and Yukon.

Visit the OAAC website at www.oklahomaallergy.com to view the addresses for all Oklahoma Allergy and Asthma Clinic locations. To make an initial appointment or to request more information, please call (405) 235-0040 or visit the website.

For information on preventing and treating allergies and asthma, visit aafa.org.

The post AAFA’s 2024 Allergy Capitals™ report names most challenging cities for living with allergies, OKC – Fifth; Tulsa – Sixth in the top Ten appeared first on Oklahoma Allergy and Asthma Clinic.

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