What can be allergic at home

Why allergies can occur even at home

If you are already under 30, but you still have never run out of nose after hugging a cat, this does not mean absolutely nothing. Allergy symptoms are capable ofCan You Develop Allergies Later in Life? manifest itself at any age - even in adults.

Heredity plays an important role here. If either parent has had an allergy, you are likely to have itWhat Causes a Person to Develop Allergies? 30–50%. If both parents were allergic, this figure jumps to 60-80%. However, even in such a situation there is a chance to "outgrow" the disease: in those over 50, the symptoms sometimes subside.

Sudden runny nose and watery eyes can be caused byCan You Develop Allergies Later in Life? close contact with a potential allergen. If from childhood you are accustomed to strictly monitor cleanliness, but on self-isolation because of the blockage of work, you forgot when you last wiped the dust, then you risk getting acquainted with unpleasant symptoms. They can occur if the immune system was not in the best shape when meeting the allergen, for example during pregnancy or illness.

What allergens can be found in the apartment

Dust

It consistsIndoor allergens from the smallest particles of food, pollen, tissue fibers and skin flakes - both yours and your pets. Often, dust mites are added to this set, already killer for any allergy sufferer. These are tiny creatures that feed on particles of the epidermis and live where it is warm and humid. Bed linen, upholstered furniture and carpets are their favorite habitats. Allergies causeDust Mite Allergies excrement of mites and particles of their decaying remains mixed with dust.

Mold

The requirements for living conditions for mold are about the same as for ticks: if only it is humid and warm. She especially likes a kitchen or bathroom with poor ventilation and leaking pipes. Mold spores end up in the air, and if inhaled, the immune system can overreact - and this is how it developsMold allergy allergy.

Animals

Contrary to popular belief, an annoying factor isIndoor Allergy Triggers not at all the hair of dogs and cats. It's all to blamePet allergy their urine, saliva and tiny skin particles that mix with the dust and spread throughout the apartment. And no, there are no hypoallergenic breeds.

Insects

For example, cockroaches. Their excrement and chitinous cover containsCockroach allergy a protein that can cause an allergic reaction. In some cases, the case mayCockroach Allergy: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and More even reach asthma. If you needed an additional reason to keep order in the kitchen, then here it is.

Pollen

Self-isolation here is unlikely to save: the apartment still needs to be ventilated from time to time, so allergens from the street can easily get into the room. And if you don't use deliveries and go grocery shopping yourself, then you risk bringing birch or alder pollen home on your clothes or hair.

Household chemicals

And along with cosmetics. Preservatives, antibacterial ingredients and flavors are capable ofChemical Allergies: Shampoo, Cleaners, and More provoke allergies. However, it does not always ariseThe Truth About Adult-Onset Allergies after the first application: you can use the same cream for years, and then find that some strange rashes appeared on the skin. Cleaning gloves do not help everyone: if they are made of latex, then they themselves canContact dermatitis cause a negative reaction.

Symptoms to Look Out for

Allergies are unpredictable and can remind of themselves at any time of the year. In spring or summer, a sudden attack of sneezing is easier to blame on pollen, but dust mites and cockroaches do not care whether April is now or October.

Allergic reactions can manifest in different ways, but symptoms existWhat Are the Symptoms of an Allergy?that meetAllergies: Symptoms & causes often:

• Nose clogged or flowing out of it for no apparent reason.
• The eyes are red, itchy and watery.
• The person constantly sneezes or coughs.
• A tingling sensation appears in the throat.
• Shortness of breath worries.
• Redness occurs on the skin, accompanied by itching and flaking.

Sometimes allergies are hard to tellCold or allergy: Which is it? from ARVI, so it is better to do without amateur performances and not diagnose yourself on the Internet. If you suspect that viruses are not to blame for a persistent runny nose, consult a physician and take a blood test for total immunoglobulin E. You may be sent to an allergist with the result of this test - you will need to undergo additional tests to determine the allergen.

How to deal with allergies

Keep it clean

Wipe off dust with a damp cloth, and once or twice a week, vacuum or vacuum the floor — ideally with a HEPA filter. Wear a mask when cleaning to avoid inhaling irritating particles. It is better to refuse from household chemicals with fragrances in favor of products without bright fragrances.

The optimum temperature in the apartment is from 20 to 22 ° C, and the air humidity should not exceedAllergy-proof your home 50%. If you're ventilating, hang a damp gauze curtain on a window or balcony door to trap at least some of the pollen.

Keep pets out of the bedroom

And if you live in a one-room apartment, then at least don't let them jump on the bed. You need to wash the animal after each walk - a dog or cat can dragControl Indoor Allergens to Improve Indoor Air Quality pollen from the street.

Cleaning the tray should be entrusted to a household without allergies, but if this is not possible, wear a mask, and when done, wash your hands thoroughly. By the way, it is worth washing your hands every time you cuddle a cat or scratch a dog.

Change your bed linen in time

It is necessaryAllergy-proof your home Do it at least once a week, and wash sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases at 60 ° C. Dry the laundry in the room, not on the open balcony, otherwise it will collect pollen on itself. And don't forget about decorative pillows and stuffed toys - they should also be sent to the laundry regularly.

Replace feather pillows and woolen blankets with synthetic fill. And to make life as difficult as possible for ticks, you can buy a protective mattress cover.

Get rid of the trash

The fewer dust collectors in the house, the less risk of allergies. It is better to get rid of carpets right away - even a vacuum cleaner is not always capable of collecting all the dust from a long pile, and if you clean the carpet with a damp sponge, there will be expanse for mold. Remove books and decor such as figurines and caskets from open shelves and into a closet. Curtains and bedspreads are great at collecting dust, so wash or vacuum them regularly.

Tidy up your bathroom

Make sure everything is ok with ventilation. If the bathroom is always damp, leave the door open after you shower. When cleaning, remember to clean the seams between the tiles, and regularly wash the rugs and shower curtain. After washing dry, wipe the rubber seal on the door of the washing machine. Finally, don't hesitate to fix the leaking faucet later. So the mold will not have time to grow, and the cockroaches will have nothing to drink.

Don't make a mess in the kitchen

All moldy food from the refrigerator should be immediately put into the trash can. Wipe the refrigerator itself once a week from the inside - both the walls, and the shelves, and the seals. Remove the crumbs from the table and sweep the floor, otherwise neighbor cockroaches will come running for a treat. It is better not to store flour, pasta and cereals in open packs - pour them into tightly closed containers. Take out the trash regularly and use a bucket with a lid so that insects have nothing to profit from.

Leave the house less often when everything is blooming around

In the end, the self-isolation regime has not yet been canceled. The less you walk down the street, the lower your risk of breathing in pollen. Keep an allergy-causing bloom calendar handy just in case. For example, birch blooms in April, Gismeteo even has a daily forecast concentration of its pollen in the air.

There are contraindications. Before use, you must consult with a specialist.