How to get indoor allergens under control
Watery eyes, runny nose, congestion — allergy sufferers are all too familiar with the symptoms. Most know enough to stay inside when the outdoor air is full of pollen. But what if the great indoors is causing the problem? There’s nowhere to hide if that’s the case.
Fortunately indoor allergens are a little easier to control. No one can very well strip the land of grass and trees, but everyone can take steps to limit allergy triggers residing under their own roof.
The three main indoor pollutants are dust, mold and pet dander. Cockroaches — more precisely a protein found in their droppings —- have also been known to cause allergic reactions in some people. With the possible exception of mold, all of these allergy triggers are alive and well in homes around the Coachella Valley. Elevating the air quality in your personal space can make all the difference as to whether you control your allergies or they control you.
The dust issue has less to do with random dirt and sand blowing around and more to do with the dust mites that live alongside humans and pets feeding off their sloughed off cells and hair follicles. Dust mite droppings are the most common trigger of allergy and asthma symptoms, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
“You find most of the house dust that produces allergenic dust in bedding,” says Dr. David Waldman, section chief of allergy at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage. It may be tough to part with your oh-so-soft feather pillow and cozy down comforter, but they are particular offenders and Waldman strongly suggests eliminating both from the bedroom.
Pet problems
Pets are a slightly trickier situation. In a perfect, allergy-free world you wouldn’t have any. If you’re dealing with allergies, it’s certainly recommended you refrain from getting a pet.
“But if you have them, I always say keep them and enjoy them,” says Waldman. “Just keep them out of the bedroom so they don’t get on the bed because that leads to increased mite population. They’ll also bring pollens in from outside onto the bed.”
That last point is significant. Remember, while you’re staying inside to avoid pollens, your dog or cat goes outside and runs through weeds and rolls on grass. Then the animal comes inside, and you reach down to give it a pat and soon after rub your nose or eyes. Obviously some extra vigilance is required on your part if you’re going to co-exist symptom-free with a pet.
Reducing allergens
Given the Coachella Valley’s dry climate, mold isn’t much of a problem for local allergy-sufferers. Mold is only likely to proliferate due to an accident such as a leaky roof, an overflowing toilet or an unattended swimming pool topping off during a refill and spilling into the house. Quick action to fix the problem and dry out affected areas should nip allergic reactions in the bud.
Meanwhile, a good exterminator can do much to alleviate a burgeoning cockroach population. Most people need little prompting to take action against these pests, allergy problem or not.
Finally, a good air filter can be the ultimate defense against allergies once measures have been taken to clear your indoor environment of excessive dust mites, pet dander and mold. No need to waste your money investing in a big expensive filter either. According to Waldman, the ones that promise to clean the whole house seldom work.
Instead, he suggests purchasing a HEPA, or high-efficiency particulate absorption air filter. They’re about the size of an old-fashioned stereo.
“Put it in the allergy-sufferer’s bedroom because that’s where they spend at least a one-third of their day. Leave it on all the time and that seems to cut down on asthma attacks especially,” Waldman says.