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.

Why Should You Visit an Allergist

Is it a cold, the flu, or persistent seasonal allergies made worse by Oklahoma weather? Do your rashes seem to appear at a certain time of year or after you eat specific foods? A board-certified allergist can help you untangle these mysteries and get you to a place where you feel. In this article, you will learn the following points:

What an allergist does and what they test for
When you may consider getting an allergy test

When You Go to an Allergist, What Do They Do?

Allergists perform testing to determine what their patients are allergic to. They prescribe various treatments, including antihistamines, inhalers, creams, and allergen immunotherapy, to help their patients feel better. If you're considering visiting an allergist, think about your symptoms and when they appear. For example, you may know that you have a severe cat allergy if you always sneeze, cough, or break out into hives when you visit your best friend, who has five feline companions in the house. A food allergy may be equally obvious and even life-threatening due to its severity.

On the other hand, you may have no clue what you're allergic to. This is where a qualified allergist can help you by performing standardized, research-backed allergy testing to determine the cause of your suffering.

What Do Allergists Usually Test For?

Your allergist at Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma Clinic will first talk to you, discuss your medical history and review your symptoms. If you experience hives or anaphylactic shock (a serious, life-threatening reaction) after eating a food, your doctor may run a series of tests to determine the offending food. If your symptoms involve itchy eyes, sneezing, a sore throat, or a cough, your allergist will likely perform a skin test for environmental allergies such as different types of pollen, animal dander, dust, and mold.

If you have eczema or other skin symptoms related to allergies, the allergist may review the products you use daily and perform patch testing for contact dermatitis caused by lotions, shampoos, or fragrances.

When Should You Get an Allergy Test?

When to see an allergist depends on the severity and frequency of your symptoms. Sometimes, it's enough for patients with milder symptoms to simply take an over-the-counter antihistamine for the duration of allergy season. If your symptoms are frequent and bothersome, you've had a severe reaction to food, or you have symptoms of asthma, including shortness of breath or frequent coughing, it's time to visit an allergist for treatment. Allergies typically don't get better over time, but a personalized treatment regimen can help a great deal.

Is It Expensive To See an Allergist?

Your insurance may cover part or all your consultation and testing. Don't let financial concerns stop you from seeing an allergist — especially if you or your child is suffering from chronic or unexplainable symptoms. Treating allergies can drastically improve a person's quality of life.

Get in touch with Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma Clinic as soon as possible to determine coverage for evaluation of services. We look forward to serving you and your family!

Image Source: ronstik / Shutterstock

The post Why Should You Visit an Allergist appeared first on Oklahoma Allergy and Asthma Clinic.

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Environmental Control for Indoor Allergens

Environmental Control for Indoor Allergens

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Why Should You Visit an Allergist

When You Go to an Allergist, What Do They Do?

What Do Allergists Usually Test For?

When Should You Get an Allergy Test?

Is It Expensive To See an Allergist?

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