Tackling Household Allergens Head-On

allergens in the home house
Most people have or know someone with allergies. An immune system response that triggers a host of unwanted symptoms, allergies result from contact with normally harmless substances called allergens. Many allergens come from food and the outdoors, yet some of the most common dwell inside the home. Known as household allergens, these pesky substances (which are actually proteins) can cause year-round allergic reactions – and a lot of sniffling.

Symptoms of Household Allergens

A runny nose, sneezing and wheezing sound familiar? These might be signs of household allergens, particularly when they last longer than a few months. Other symptoms include:
  • asthma
  • coughing
  • post-nasal drip (mucus produced by the sinuses that drains down the back of the throat)
  • stuffy nose or ears
  • swollen, red eyes
  • watery or itchy eyes.
Sometimes indoor allergens cause a skin condition known as eczema. Look for red, dry or itchy patches on the skin.

When to Seek Help

If some of these symptoms match your own, consider visiting an allergist/immunologist, a medical doctor who will ask questions about your allergen exposure and conduct a physical exam of your ears, nose, throat, eyes and skin. You may need a referral from your family doctor. Whatever the case, your allergist will help you identify potential allergens and come up with a plan for cutting your exposure. Treatment options generally include allergy shots, anti-asthma drugs and allergen immunotherapy (injections of allergens administered by an allergist).

Common Household Allergens

Indoor allergens can lurk anywhere from underneath the sofa and on top of the coffee table to the corner of the bathroom floor. With many of us spending roughly 90 percent of our time indoors, it's no wonder that household allergens wreak much havoc. The most common sources include:
  • cockroaches
  • dust mites, which gather in carpet, bedding and stuffed animals
  • formaldehyde, used in things like air fresheners, liquid cleaners, paint and glue
  • furry mammals, such as dogs and cats
  • mold, which grows in dark, moist places and travels through the air
  • pollen, which can drift in from the outdoors in the early spring season
  • smoke (tobacco or wood).

Testing for Allergens in Your Home

Most allergens are too small to see with the naked eye, yet scientists have developed ways to measure allergen levels in your home. This process involves collecting a dust sample and sending it to a lab to obtain the level of allergen proteins. Speak with your allergist or an indoor air quality specialist about arranging a home test by a professional. This option takes the guesswork out of determining your exposure to allergens, and it helps your allergist put together a proper treatment plan. For tighter budgets, consider one of many home allergen tests on the market. These cost around 60 dollars and require you to mail your sample to a lab.

Freeing Your Home of Allergens

You can take a number of steps to rid your home of allergens. These steps range from simple and small to larger and more expensive. Though not easy, creating an allergen-free home will leave you – and your visitors – feeling better and breathing more easily. Here's what you can do:
  • Focus on your bedroom, where you likely spend one-third of your time – and where dust mites congregate. Wash your bedding weekly in hot water, and cover your mattress, comforter and pillows in mite-proof covers from a home department store. If possible, remove carpet from your bedroom, or at least treat it monthly with a non-toxic mite pesticide from your local supermarket.

  • Keep smoke (tobacco and wood) out of your house. If you have a wood-burning stove, ensure that the door seals tightly and does not leak smoke indoors.

  • Keep your bathrooms clean, scrubbing your showers and bathtubs monthly to discourage mold.

  • Keep your pets outside or confined to one part of the house, or consider talking to your doctor about finding a new home for your furry friend. This difficult option can make a real difference to someone with pet allergies.

  • Make your house an unwelcome place for cockroaches. Avoid leaving food in the kitchen or on the floor, and repair any leaky faucets, sinks and bathtubs. Also caulk all cracks and crevices in your walls and flooring, which can serve as entry points for cockroaches.

  • Vacuum and dust your house regularly to avoid allergen build-up. Make sure your vacuum has a 2-layer microfiltration bag or a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.

  • Wash or remove stuffed animals, rugs and other soft home décor items.

Remember that identifying your allergen exposure is the first step in feeling better. Talk with your doctor, and consider administering a home allergen test, either by yourself or by hiring an indoor air quality specialist. Your test results will enable your doctor to come up with a proper treatment plan, while helping you target your efforts to remove allergens from your house. Remember that indoor allergies can lead to serious health problems like asthma and sinusitis. Getting rid of them takes effort - but pays off in the end.
 
Resources
 
American Academy of Asthma Allergy and Immunology. (1996-2009). How the allergist/immunologist can help: Consultation and referral guidelines citing the evidence. Retrieved March 14, 2009, from the American Academy of Asthma Allergy and Immunology Web site: http://www.aaaai.org/patients/resources/rgce/patients.asp.
 
Chapman, M. (2003-05). Your home – the allergens within and how to control them. Retrieved March 13, 2009, from the Indoor Biotechnologies Web site: http://www.inbio.com/Your_home.html.
 
Golonka, D. (2007). Controlling indoor allergens. Retrieved March 13, 2009, from the Yahoo! Health Web site: http://health.yahoo.com/allergy-overview/controlling-indoor-allergens/healthwise--rt1200.html.
 
Huggins, J. and Looney, R.J. (2004). Allergen immunotherapy. Retrieved March 14, 2009 from, the American Academy of Family Physicians Web site: http://www.aafp.org/afp/20040815/689.html.
 
Sylvane (n.d.). Common airborne allergens at home. Retrieved March 13, 2009, from the Sylvane Web site: http://www.sylvane.com/learning-center/common-airborne-allergens.html.