asthma/allergies | allergy | indoor allergies
ALLERGIESIndoor AllergiesMost people with allergies or asthma consider their home a safe haven where they can escape their allergies. Unfortunately, buildings harbor their own allergens. The inside of your home actually traps allergens, making them impossible to avoid. Unlike seasonal allergies, indoor allergies may last all year. A HEPA air purifier is recommended by the American Lung Association as the best way to combat indoor airborne contaminants as it removes 99% of airborne pollutants. Ozone or washable air purifiers or ionizers are not effective and inhaling the ozone that they produce may be harmful. The most common indoor allergens are:Dust MitesOften, when people think they are sensitive to dust, they are actually sensitive to the dust mites and their waste particles and fragments of dust mites that have died that can be found in household dust.PetsAn allergic reaction is actually caused by substances in the animal's saliva, urine, and especially dander. The allergens become crusted on the animal's hair or skin from urination or the animal licking or scratching itself; once dry, the allergens are released into the air, where they join the other components of house dust. An allergic reaction is actually caused by substances in the animal's saliva, urine, and especially dander.MoldsMolds generally live outdoors but can normally be found in almost any indoor environment. As it grows mold releases spores into the air which become part of house dust.CockroachesMost of us don't want to think about insects in our home, especially cockroaches, but they are a fact of life. If you live in a crowded urban area, an older multifamily dwelling, or a warm climate it’s likely roaches living in your home, even if you don't see them. When they die, usually not in plain sight, their bodies become dried and break apart. These body pieces, as well as their dried waste, become part of house dust. |
