Common Indoor Allergy Triggers and How to Avoid Them

January W. Payne

If cold, wintry weather is keeping you indoors, remember: Year-round, that's home to many of the peskiest allergy and asthma triggers, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. So if you have allergies or asthma, it's a good idea to ensure that your home is as free of triggers as possible--or at least find ways to reduce your exposure. Your doctor can help you develop a plan, but here's some advice to get you started:

1. DUST MITES

Microscopic insects called dust mites are the most common allergy and asthma symptom trigger, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. They feed on human skin flakes and tend to thrive when rooms are above 40 percent humidity and at temperatures above 70 degrees. And while they like bedding and soft furnishings the most, they can be found anywhere in the house.

To ward off dust mites, allergists recommend purchasing allergen-proof encasings for pillows, mattresses, and box springs, and washing linens in 130-degree temperatures every seven to 10 days.

"Any place you find people where it's not supercold or really dry, you can have dust mites," White says. Unlike bedbugs, dust mites don't bite, so you won't wake up with puncture marks on your skin. "It's largely a respiratory phenomenon," says Clifford Bassett, chair of the AAAAI's Public Education Committee.

When it comes to cleaning, have someone else handle the vacuuming, or wear a mask. And use a vacuum that contains a HEPA filter or double-layered bag. Since stuffed animals collect dust mites, too, you'll need a simple way to keep your child's favorites trouble free.

"Take the stuffed toy, put it in a freezer bag, and then put it in the freezer for three to five hours per week," Bassett says. Freezing the toy kills the dust mites. When purchasing other types of toys, stick with products that are washable or easy to wipe off.

2. PETS

The dander shed by furry friends can cause symptoms in susceptible people. But for reasons not completely understood, some allergic people are OK around certain breeds. While there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog, some breeds, such as poodles and Portuguese water dogs (the breed President Obama's family chose because of daughter Malia's allergies), produce less dander.

To test how you or your child fare around a particular breed, visit a friend or family member who has a pet to see how you feel, suggests Martha White, an AAAAI fellow and research director at the Institute for Asthma and Allergy, a private practice in Maryland with offices in Wheaton and Chevy Chase. Spend 30 minutes or more around the pet, then watch for allergy symptoms for the next day or so. Some allergic people can't be around any pets without getting sick.

3. MOLD

Indoor mold tends to grow in damp, dark environments, such as basements or showers and bathtubs, says Robert Fisher, the medical director at a Wisconsin-based practice called Allergy Research and Care. Because basements are so often affected, people with mold allergies should keep this in mind when choosing where to live, White says.

"Don't rent in the basement, and don't put a bedroom in the basement," White says. Also, think about putting tile down as basement flooring rather than carpet. "If there's going to be water leakage," White says, "then carpet gets wet and moldy, so you want a floor that will dry easily."

Mold growth should be cleaned thoroughly using water, detergent, and 5 percent bleach, if needed. If mold spreads over an area larger than 10 square feet, the help of an indoor environmental professional may be needed, the AAAAI says.

4. COCKROACHES

Cockroaches, an issue mostly in cities and the southern United States, are believed to play a large role in asthma in inner-city populations, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The allergens are found in the saliva and feces of cockroaches.

Don't think that because you saw one roach in your home and killed it that your problem is solved.

"If you see evidence of a roach, that usually means there's a lot in the house," White says. If you live in an apartment or condo, call your landlord or condo association to arrange extermination of your entire building, she advises. Sometimes people with allergies are hesitant to have extermination done because they're worried about the impact of chemicals on their health. "But if they're allergic (to roaches), they should get it done," she says--while family and pets are out.

Other steps to take, advises the AAAAI: Block off cracks and crevices in the wall or windows. Keep food in containers with lids, put away your pet's dishes, clean up after meals, take garbage out promptly, and fix leaky faucets or pipes because roaches need water to survive. Wash dishes soon after eating, and clean under toasters, refrigerators, and stoves to get rid of crumbs.

5. POLLEN

Many people don't think of pollen as having an impact indoors. But "if you're outdoors during nice weather, you can bring it in on your clothes or shoes," Fisher says. Pets can bring pollen into the home, too, leading some people to assume they're allergic to their pets when in fact they're actually allergic to ragweed or another type of pollen.

To combat this problem, consider wiping pets down when they return from outdoors, keep windows closed in the home and run air conditioning during warmer weather, and change clothes and shoes immediately after returning from outdoors. Also, an air purifier with a HEPA filter can clean the air and keep about 80 percent of pollen out of the home, Fisher says.

6. CIGARETTES

While not a traditional allergen, cigarette smoke is often an irritant for people with asthma and allergies. Secondhand smoke, which irritates the already inflamed bronchial passages in asthmatics, can cause asthma attacks and worsen the severity of the attacks, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Moreover, studies have shown that "exposure to tobacco smoke has incredible impact on increasing risk of asthma in kids," Bassett says. So allergists recommend that parents avoid smoking around children altogether, both at home and in the car. It's thought that because kids are still developing, they're more susceptible to the effects of smoke, and they may breathe more rapidly, causing them to take in more smoke than adults.

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Health - Common Indoor Allergy Triggers and How to Avoid Them