Your home is supposed to be the most comfortable and safe place for you. Unfortunately, some people can suffer from indoor allergies. All that sneezing, coughing, and itching can make your time at home unbearable. From mold removal to bed bug extermination, there are many ways to allergy-proof your home. But first, you need to find the source of the problem. Here are some common causes that may be responsible for your indoor allergies.
Dust Mites
Dust mites are microscopic creatures that feed on dead skin cells. They can be found all over your house, but they tend to thrive in warm, humid environments. Hence, they are likely to be living in your mattress, bedding, furniture, carpet, and even soft toys. Although dust mites are tiny, their impact can be huge. Dust mite allergies are very common, and they can affect people with allergic rhinitis and asthma more severely. Symptoms of a dust mite allergy can include sneezing, a stuffy nose, or a runny nose. It is impossible to eliminate dust mites, but you can manage your exposure to them by using synthetic bedding, placing an anti-allergy cover over your mattress, removing carpets and curtains from the bedroom, washing your bedding in hot water once a week, and adding specialized filters to your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
Bed Bugs
Unfortunately, dust mites are not the only pests that favor the bedroom. Bed bugs are parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans, and they love to live in environments that provide easy access to their hosts. Bed bugs can be found in all sorts of places including cracks in the walls, underneath wallpaper, inside mattresses, and even in the seams of clothing or furniture. A bed bug infestation can be difficult to detect because you often do not see them until it is too late. They come out at night and leave numerous bites on your skin that can look like mosquito or flea bites. Aside from being very itchy and sometimes painful, bed bug bites can lead to allergic reactions such as swelling and rashes. Because bed bugs are notoriously difficult to eliminate, you should hire a professional bed bug exterminator.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are not only disgusting to look at but they can also create bad smells and cause allergic reactions. They are a common household pest in densely populated urban areas and the warmer regions of the US. They love to hide in dark corners, cracks, and crevices, and feed on grease, food scraps, and decaying matter. The droppings and body parts of cockroaches can break apart and become part of household dust. However, these particles contain proteins that can trigger allergic reactions in people, especially those with asthma and eczema. Make sure that you do not leave food waste or dirty dishes lying around and store your food supplies in securely sealed containers. You can use bait and traps to kill cockroaches but the best way to get rid of them is to contact a professional pest control company.
Mold
Mold can grow almost anywhere in a home if the right conditions are present. The best conditions for mold growth are warm temperatures and high humidity levels. Hence, most mold problems develop in bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry areas where there is plenty of moisture in the air from steam. Symptoms of mold allergies include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and eye or skin irritation. In severe cases, mold allergies can lead to asthma attacks or hypersensitivity pneumonitis. If you have mold in your home, have it professionally removed as soon as possible. Manage the humidity levels in your home using a dehumidifier and an effective ventilation system. Make sure that you address causes of excess moisture in your home such as groundwater seepage or leaky pipes.
Animal Dander
Although many people think they are allergic to animal hair, it is the substances in the saliva and urine of animals and their dander that usually triggers allergies. Dander is the dead skin flakes of animals that can float in the air or settle on surfaces around the house. Animal dander allergy symptoms are like other indoor allergies and can include watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, and difficulty breathing. Animal-related allergies can be difficult to overcome because you obviously do not want to give up your beloved pet. However, you can manage dander by vacuuming often, keeping your pet out of bedrooms and off your furniture, regularly grooming your pet (preferably outdoors), replacing carpets with wood or vinyl flooring, and using an air purifier or HVAC system with HEPA filters.
General Guidelines
Nobody likes to be uncomfortable. If your allergies seldom occur and are relatively mild, they can be tolerated using over-the-counter medications. However, if your allergies are frequent and severe, it is important to seek medical advice to help you manage the symptoms and prevent more serious complications from occurring.
Generally, it is best to treat the cause of your allergy instead of its symptoms. Once you identify the allergen, try to deal with it immediately. You should see an improvement in your symptoms within the week. If not, consider seeking the advice of a professional exterminator to identify any undetected pest problems. You can also contact an indoor air quality specialist to perform a thorough evaluation of the air inside your home.
