Are Your Allergies Worse Indoors? A Complete Guide to a Healthier Indo – The Ecology Works

What Causes Indoor Allergies? 

If you’re regularly sneezing and sniffling more indoors than out, your home may be the source of your misery. An overly reactive immune system is triggered when a sensitive individual encounters an allergen – sources abound in most households. One study found that over 50% of the U.S. homes assessed had at least six detectable allergens present, and nearly 46% had at least three allergens exceeding elevated levels. 

Fortunately, there are ways that you can significantly reduce the number of environmental allergens in your home, improve indoor air quality, and help prevent your bothersome allergy symptoms from happening in the first place. Knowing how to avoid or minimize allergy triggers will go a long way toward reclaiming the blissful indoor environment you deserve. 

Allergens and Indoor Air Quality 

According to the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a growing body of evidence indicates that the air inside homes and other indoor environments can be much more polluted than outdoor air––even in the largest and most industrialized cities. And with the average person spending about 90% of their time indoors, air quality can hugely impact health. 

​​Indoor air quality can be drastically different from outdoor air quality due to many factors, including the level of ventilation, the types of cleaning and household products used, whether or not pets are present, smoke from fireplaces or wood stoves, and sources of mold growth such as damp basements. All these factors contribute to an environment with elevated levels of allergens and irritants that can worsen your allergy symptoms if not appropriately addressed. 

Common Symptoms of Indoor Allergies 

If your nasal stuffiness, sneezing, watery eyes, wheezing, and constant post-nasal drip bother you year-round, then you most likely have nonseasonal hay fever, sometimes referred to as perennial allergic rhinitis. This condition is typically caused by indoor allergens such as dust mites, cockroach parts, mold, and animal dander. 

If you think you’re suffering from indoor allergies, consult your doctor or allergist to determine what’s causing your symptoms; allergy tests can confirm what triggers your allergic symptoms. 

How to Manage Indoor Allergens and Improve Air Quality

More than 50 million Americans experience allergies yearly, and many suffer year-round allergy symptoms caused by indoor allergens. When these symptoms occur year-round, the condition is called perennial allergic rhinitis or nasal allergies. 

As a long-term solution, the most effective treatment option is neutralizing the source of allergies inside your home. The most common indoor allergens include dust mites, mold, and pet dander. Cockroaches can also trigger allergy symptoms. 

Dust Mites 

Dust mites are the most common indoor allergens. These microscopic bugs live in soft furniture, feeding on dead skin cells shed by humans and animals. While mites don’t bite (thank goodness!), they can cause a long list of uncomfortable allergy symptoms, cause asthma flares, and lead to chronic fatigue. Dust mites thrive in warm, humid environments, making them particularly common during the winter when moisture is higher indoors and windows remain closed for extended periods. Both people and pets can be affected by dust mite allergies. Dust mites are nearly everywhere. And while it’s not possible to completely eradicate them, their impact can be greatly reduced. 

Tip: How to Combat Dust Mite Allergens in the Home

 Consider these tips for managing dust mite allergens: 

• Reduce clutter around your home so that dust has fewer places to accumulate. 
• Wash your bedding weekly with an anti-allergen laundry detergent. Heads up, “anti-allergen” is key. Using standard detergent will leave dust mites behind. 
• Clean carpets, rugs, and upholstery at least twice per year. Start by vacuuming thoroughly with a HEPA vacuum. Follow up with a carpet cleaner (or hot water extractor) along with our Dustmite & Flea Control to help keep dust mites from returning. Remember that dust mites thrive in places with high humidity, so make sure you allow plenty of time for thorough drying after using a hot water vacuum. A fan will help speed up your drying time.

Dustmite & Flea Control works by coating the mite’s food source so populations die off. This is great news for allergy sufferers since killing mites gets right to the allergen source. With dust mites eliminated, they can no longer produce particles that contribute to allergy symptoms. 

Pet Allergens 

Pet allergens are also a major source of indoor allergies. As many as three in 10 people with allergies have allergic reactions to cats and dogs, with cat allergies being twice as common as dog allergies. Animal dander (dead skin flakes) becomes airborne and accumulates on carpets, curtains, bedding, furniture, and other surfaces where pets spend a lot of time. Cat dander is particularly problematic because cats groom themselves often, increasing their shedding and spreading allergens. Not to mention, cat dander can stick around for months. Thankfully, in many cases, allergies to pet dander can be managed. 

Tip: How to Combat Pet Allergens in the Home

• Start by keeping pets out of key areas like the bedroom or home office. Remember, pet allergen levels are much higher in rooms where animals are physically present.
• Bathe pets regularly with an anti-allergen pet shampoo to remove allergens from their fur.
• For quick cleanup, cover furniture with washable covers or throw blankets. Use an anti-allergen laundry detergent to wash the covers weekly and other washables (such as pet beds) to keep the allergen load down. 
• Vacuum regularly (daily if you have a pet that sheds) with a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter to prevent the outflow of the contents. 
• Use an anti-allergen solution to neutralize the threat of pet dander allergens from bedding, furniture, rugs, carpeting, upholstery, pet beds, and more.

Mold

Mold is another common indoor allergen that can cause sneezing, coughing, coughing, and other allergy symptoms. Mold grows in moist places such as bathrooms or basements without adequate ventilation or air circulation. Mold spores trigger allergies, and they are released into the air when mold grows on damp surfaces like floors or walls. 

Tip: How to Combat Mold Allergens in the Home

Mold is an allergen that can trigger sneezing, coughing, and other allergy symptoms. To combat mold allergens in the home, start by addressing any leaks. Next, remove mold from surfaces and treat it with a mold inhibitor. Keep in mind that mold needs water to survive, so it’s crucial to make sure the area drys completely.  

For extensive mold problems, consider hiring a professional trained in mold cleanup. Some molds are highly toxic, and even less dangerous molds can cause problems for people with allergies, compromised immune systems, or respiratory issues. Generally, the rule of thumb is to seek the help of a professional if the mold covers ten or more square feet. 

To control mold growth around the home: 

• Clean bathrooms regularly with a mold inhibitor to neutralize mold spores.
• Use an exhaust fan or a dehumidifier to help eliminate excess moisture in the bathroom.
• Wash musty towels, bed linens, and other washables with an anti-allergen laundry detergent. Remember, most laundry products don’t have the right ingredients to remove mold or the odors caused by mold, leaving mold spores, stains, and funk behind. 

Cockroach Allergens

According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology (ACAAI), cockroaches’ saliva, feces, and shedding body parts can trigger asthma and allergies. Cockroaches live in all types of buildings and neighborhoods. Having these unsightly critters lurking doesn’t mean you have a dirty home. The National Pest Management Association reports that over 60% of homes in the U. S. contain cockroach allergens, and that number rises to 98% of homes in urban areas.

Tip: How to Combat Cockroach Allergens in the Home

If you notice cockroaches around your home, start by blocking off any areas where they can enter, including crevices, wall cracks, and windows. Just like mold, roaches need water to survive, so fix any leaks that could unknowingly give cockroaches access to water. Keep food containers and garbage cans sealed. Vital Oxide removes allergens from cockroaches (as well as dust mites, pet dander, and molds) and is safe for use on surfaces that water won’t harm; use it to clean all around the home. Consult an exterminator if you believe you have a cockroach infestation. 

Reducing Allergen Build-Up in the Home During Winter Months 

Spending more time indoors during the winter can make you more vulnerable to allergies. This is because windows and doors are kept closed due to cold temperatures, and allergens can accumulate inside your home. This build-up of allergens can cause an increase in allergy symptoms like itchy, watery eyes and runny nose. 

The Ecology Works Anti-Allergen Solution neutralizes common environmental allergens from the home quickly and efficiently to eliminate the source of your allergy symptoms. 

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI), the most common indoor allergens that may trigger symptoms in the winter include pet dander, mold spores, dust mites, and cockroach sheddings and droppings. 

Thankfully, there are several ways to reduce allergen buildup in the home during winter months. 

1. Ventilate! Open the windows for a few minutes daily (or as often as possible!) for fresh air circulation throughout the house. 
2. Dust at least once weekly (or daily if needed) with a damp cloth and anti-allergen solution.  
3. Vacuum carpets, rugs, upholstery, furniture, pet beds, curtains, and other soft surfaces using a HEPA vacuum cleaner.  
4. Following vacuum cleaning, spray soft surfaces with an anti-allergen solution to neutralize allergens on contact and diminish their threat. 

Did you know? Many people carry on the annual tradition of spring cleaning to declutter and remove the dust, grime, and allergens that have built up inside during the colder winter months. 

Neutralize Allergens in Your Home Quickly & Efficiently with The Ecology Works Anti-Allergen Products 

Indoor allergies can be a major nuisance year-round, and especially during cold winter months when windows are kept closed for longer periods. This results in poor indoor air quality and worsens allergies and asthma if not addressed properly. While it’s not possible to completely rid your home of allergens, there are plenty of things you can do to reduce the number of allergens in your home. 

With The Ecology Works Anti-Allergen Products, you’ll have the solutions needed to quickly and efficiently neutralize common indoor allergens like dust mites, pet dander, and mold spores from your home –– so you can breathe easier. Our products eliminate allergens directly at their source—providing effective relief. 

Have questions about reducing environmental allergens or irritants inside your home or business? We have answers! The Ecology Works has been helping folks with allergies and asthma since 1993. We can help you select the products you need to live a better, allergen-free life. Please feel free to Contact Us or message us on Facebook. No question is too small! We’re here to help.

Control Indoor Allergens to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Allergy and asthma control begins at home. Many people with allergies stay indoors when pollen and mold is high. But dust mites, pet dander and even cockroaches can cause problems indoors.¹

The Environmental Protection Agency recommends three ways you can improve indoor air quality:²

• Control your contact with indoor airborne allergens
• Ventilate your indoor areas well
• Use air cleaners to clean indoor air

Eight out of 10 people in the United States are exposed to dust mites. Six out of 10 are exposed to cat or dog dander. Cockroaches cause allergic reactions in people who live in the inner cities or southern parts of the United States. ³

Better air quality in your home, office, school and car can reduce allergy and asthma triggers.

What Size Are Allergens?

Allergens are substances that cause allergic reactions and trigger asthma symptoms in some people. The air spreads allergens around. They settle onto furniture and floors. They vary in size and are measured in microns (also called micrometers).⁴

Is It Possible to Control Indoor Allergens?

You can control indoor allergens with cleaning and reducing allergens in your home. The main sources of indoor allergens are:

• Pets
• Wall-to-wall carpet
• Soft furniture
• Stuffed toys
• Bedding
• Damp areas
• Indoor plants
• Mattresses that aren’t in allergy covers
• Pillows and bedding you can’t wash in hot water

There may be more allergens on surfaces than in the air. Surface allergens enter the air easily when you disturb them by dusting or sitting.

Will Air Cleaning Devices Help?

Air cleaning devices might help. But the best way to improve your air quality is to get rid of the sources of allergens and irritants from your home. Take measures to avoid and reduce your contact with allergens. Also increase the flow of outdoor air into your home and reduce humidity as much as possible.

Reducing humidity decreases dust mites and mold growth. Air conditioners help reduce humidity too. They can also prevent outdoor allergens. Keep your windows and doors closed. Turn your air conditioner on recirculate. These steps can help reduce outdoor allergens like pollen and mold.

Air cleaners with CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® filters can filter almost 98% of allergen particles in the air. Look for CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® devices.

What Steps Can I Take to Control Indoor Allergens?

Control dust mites. Keep surfaces in your home clean and uncluttered. Bare floors and walls are best, especially in the bedroom where you spend one-third of your time. Avoid wall-to-wall carpet, if possible. If you must have carpet, use low-pile carpets or throw rugs you can wash. Also avoid heavy drapes and overstuffed fabric furniture. Replace drapes and blinds with roll-down shades or washable curtains.⁵

Use zippered allergen-resistant or plastic covers on your pillows, mattresses and box springs. These covers are very effective in controlling your contact with dust mites. Encasing mattresses works better than air cleaners to reduce allergy symptoms. Wash your bedding, uncovered pillows and stuffed toys in water 130 degrees Fahrenheit or hotter each week. Dry them in a hot dryer cycle to kill dust mites.

Vacuum once or twice a week. Vacuuming helps keep allergens low. But poor quality vacuums could put dust into the air. Look for CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® vacuums. These vacuums have been tested and found to prevent allergens from going back into the air.

If you have allergies, wear a mask while doing housework. Use a cloth that is damp or treated with polish for dusting. Leave the house for several hours after cleaning it.

Prevent pet dander. Most doctors suggest that people who have allergies to animal dander not have pets with feathers or fur. There is no such thing as a hypoallergenic pet. People with pet allergies are allergic to animal dander which are shed skin cells that all animals have. Some animal dander has fewer allergenic proteins. This may lead to fewer or no symptoms.

Keep pets out of your bedroom. Close the doors to bedrooms when you are not home to keep pets out. Cover vents with dense material like cheesecloth. Animal allergens are sticky. Wash and change your animal’s favorite furniture and toys often.

Replace wall-to-wall carpet with bare floors or a low-pile carpet. Bathing and brushing your pets often may reduce symptoms. But avoid grooming your pets if you have animal allergies. If you must groom them, wear a mask.

Long-haired pets can also bring pollen inside in high pollen seasons like spring and fall.

If you suspect you have a pet allergy, see a board-certified allergist for allergy testing.

Prevent pollen from getting inside by keeping windows and doors closed. Use air conditioning in warm weather to control dust mites and reduce humidity. Change filters often.

Avoid mold spores. Reduce moisture around the bathroom, kitchen and other areas where there is a lot of water. Here are some ways you can reduce mold:

• Don’t run your showers for a long time before bathing.
• Use dehumidifiers to reduce both mold and dust mites.
• Use humidity monitors.
• Limit yourself to a few house plants.
• Fix all leaks and other causes of damp areas.
• If you see mold on a surface, clean it immediately. Wear a mask and clean the surface each week to keep it from returning.

Control cockroaches. Do not leave food or garbage uncovered. Use poison baits, boric acid and traps instead of chemicals. Chemicals may irritate your sinuses and asthma.

Using CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® products in your home can help you have a healthier indoor environment, as well as reduce allergens.

Learn more about the asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program by visiting aafa.org/certified.

Medical Review: September 2015

References

1. Päivi M. Salo, et al. Exposure to multiple indoor allergens in US homes and relationship to asthma. JACI. Mar 2008. (Retrieved April 24 2017)

2. Improving Indoor Air Quality. (2016, October 14). Retrieved April 24, 2017, from https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/improving-indoor-air-quality (Retrieved April 24 2017)

3. Sporik, R. Exposure to House Dust Mite Allergen, NEJM. 1990, 323 (8), p. 502. (Retrieved April 24 2017)

4. Middleton, E., Adkinson, N. F., Busse, W. W., Bochner, B. S., O’Hehir, R. E., Holgate, S. T., Lemanske, R. F. (2014). 28. In Middleton’s Allergy: Principles and Practice (8th ed.). W B Saunders Company. (Retrieved April 24 2017)

5. Lockey, R. F., Bukantz, S. C., & Bousquet, J. (2004). Mite Allergens. In Allergens and Allergen Immunotherapy. New York: Marcel Dekker. (Retrieved April 24 2017)

Allergy to air: why is it so common and how to protect yourself from it?

Health

The air cannot be perfectly clean. Something is constantly present in it: plant pollen, household and street dust, particles of rubber, plastic. Pollutants can act directly as allergens or be their carriers. Natalya Golubeva, a design engineer for ventilation, heating and air conditioning systems, a graduate of ITMO National Research University, talks about how air affects the health of allergy sufferers in her book “Air: Unexpected facts about what you cannot live without”, which will soon be released Publishing house “Alpina Publisher”.

Dangerous flowering

Imagine the difficult conditions in which the human respiratory system works. It needs to saturate the blood with oxygen, filter out impurities, expel them from the body if possible, and if this did not work out, react and activate the immune system. At enterprises with increased hazardous production, they give out a glass of milk per day for each employee. How much milk do we owe to our respiratory system?

Plants are an integral part of life on Earth. It is a source of food, oxygen and materials for production. Like all living organisms, plants need to reproduce, they do it especially beautifully – they bloom. During flowering, pollen appears in the stamens (male organs of the flower), which must be transferred to the pistil (female organ). The process of transporting pollen is called pollination, where insects, small animals, birds, and the wind help the flowers.

Pollen pollinated by the wind gives us a lot of trouble. It is especially small, light and volatile, because, according to the design of nature, it is ideally suited for transfer over long distances. It is this pollen from alder, birch, poplar, pine, spruce, cereals, wild herbs. Its size is from 10 to 60 microns. For comparison: the thickness of a human hair is from 40 to 120 microns.

Pollen in large quantities floats in the air and, when inhaled, enters the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and throat, descends into the bronchi.

If the immune system responds and regards it as a foreign component, an allergic reaction is triggered. Such an excessive erroneous response of the human body to harmless pollen is called hay fever. With any allergy, you should consult a doctor: he will help you find out which flowering plants specifically cause the reaction, and prescribe treatment. My recommendations below are just an engineering view of the problem.

If hay fever tormented you, you need to realize that the threat is in the very air. There are websites with flowering charts and allergen maps: www.pollen.com for the USA, www.pollen.club and www.polleninfo.org for Europe and Russia. As a rule, flowering, and therefore the concentration of pollen, increases in sunny, hot weather. In cloudy weather, in the evening and especially after rain, the least. A downpour can clear the air of allergens for almost a day, and a light rain for several hours.

Protective measures!

During the flowering of “your” allergen, try to be outside as little as possible and do it at a safe time: in the evening or after rain. Ventilate the room also at safe times so that as few irritating particles as possible get inside. Wet cleaning, vacuuming, frequent change of bed linen and clothes – try by all means to reduce the amount of allergens around you. After a walk, wash your face, rinse your nose, eyes and gargle: this way you will reduce their concentration on your mucous membranes.

Medical masks are quite effective against pollen, so you can try wearing them outside. Not everyone will like this method, but if the body rebels strongly, then all means are good. I recommend putting mosquito or dust nets on the windows. They will help to retain large elements, such as poplar fluff. By the way, the fluffs themselves rarely cause allergic reactions, but they perfectly tolerate the pollen of other plants. A device such as an air washer will help reduce the concentration of irritants in the room.

Food threat: what is the difference between food allergy, intolerance and sensitivity?

Street and household dust

Another common cause of allergies is dust. Street, household and its most aggressive types: construction and mineral. Construction consists of many components: particles of concrete and mixtures, anti-fungal and fire-fighting impregnations, adhesives and other chemical compounds.

Mineral dust – the smallest particles of rocks that threaten the health of miners and workers in underground construction sites. It is extremely dangerous, as well as construction, because solid dust particles of inorganic origin not only cause allergies, but settle in the respiratory tract of a person and cause serious illness. That is why all high-dust work, such as drilling, drilling, demolition of walls, and others, must be carried out in personal respiratory protection equipment (PPE).

For the same reason, you should not be in an apartment where renovation work is being carried out. After they are completed, a thorough cleaning of the premises is required.

Household dust is formed from sand, particles of fabrics, clothing and furniture materials, as well as dead human and animal skin cells. Every year a person sheds about 500 g of skin cells. Dead tissue settles on the floor, bedding, furniture and serves as food for dust mites that are not visible to the naked eye. They love high humidity and room temperature: from +18 to +25 ° C. It is these mites, as well as their metabolic products, that cause allergic reactions and even bronchial asthma.

It is not possible to completely get rid of dust mites, but their concentration can be reduced if you monitor the humidity and cleanliness of the room. Clean more frequently, especially when wet. Change bed linens and wash bedding. Remove excess carpets and other dust collectors from the room.

Use vacuum cleaners with a high activity filter – HEPA filter. The fact is that during vacuuming with a conventional filter, some of the mites are thrown back
into the air and spread around the room. They can stay in the air for up to several hours. By the way, therefore, during cleanliness, it is recommended to thoroughly ventilate the room. Another component that affects the respiratory system, which we constantly encounter, is household chemicals: all kinds of sprays, cleaning products, washing powders. Often such products smell good, so it is difficult to suspect that they can be dangerous.

Symptoms of an allergy to household chemicals can be mild: facial flushing and coughing after cleaning, sneezing when washing windows, and itchy skin after wearing freshly laundered clothes. However, everything can be much more serious: an attack of bronchial asthma, Quincke’s edema and suffocation. No matter how attractive the bottles are, do not forget that this is still chemistry. Sunny needs to be careful not to inhale the vapors and not to touch with hands without gloves.

How to protect yourself from household chemicals:

• Never mix different products. It is necessary to apply a new substance only after the previous one is completely washed off. Each manufacturer has its own recipe and composition. It is not known what reaction will happen, what vapors will be released, so it is not worth checking.
• Choose non-corrosive liquid formulations. The downside of powdered products is that their particles scatter in the air and it becomes very easy to “breathe in chemistry”.
• It is important to protect the respiratory system and minimize skin contact, so be sure to use a mask and gloves when handling household chemicals.
• Ventilate the area where you are cleaning so that fumes and chemical particles can escape more quickly.

I am writing this chapter in the summer, at the height of the picnic season, so I want to talk separately about such a tool as lighting a fire and barbecue. A lot of things burn well: gasoline, kerosene, solvents. Under no circumstances should all this be part of such a liquid, as it emits toxic combustion products. Most often, ignition is made from liquid paraffin. It is important to pay attention to the price: the more expensive the product, the higher the degree of purification and safer burning. Not to be honest, I would recommend abandoning this way of starting a fire in principle, especially if you are going to cook. There is nothing better than natural remedies: dry grass and wood chips.

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Author:

Daria Sidelnikova,
July 29, 2022

causes of allergies, tips for preventing allergic reactions at night Orteca

Contents

According to statistics, 40% of the world’s population is allergic. Studies also show that three-quarters of people with allergies wake up at night due to an increase in their symptoms, and more than 90% regularly experience sleep problems. Any manifestations of allergies interfere with sleep, be it a rash or dermatitis, lacrimation, but most of all – asthma and allergic rhinitis. The consequences of lack of sleep can be the most unpleasant – decreased energy, inability to concentrate, increased irritability and, as a result, a ruined day.

The reasons for this reaction of the body are various allergens that are in the bedroom or in bedding. Therefore, the first thing to do is to avoid these irritants or try to reduce contact with them!

It is not simple. And for this reason, we want to give you some tips to help you avoid allergies at night.

1. Change your usual down pillows, mattresses and blankets

Often the main factor in restless sleep is the fillers of pillows, mattresses and blankets. The thing is that natural materials of animal origin – fluff, feathers, wool – are the most dangerous “enemies” for a hypersensitive person. In this regard, people prone to allergies, with increased sensitivity to natural materials, bedding with artificial fillers is recommended. The production technology of each TRELAX orthopedic product allows the use of exclusively safe and hypoallergenic materials.

Orthopedic pillows and mattresses TRELAX are ideal night companions for people prone to allergies.

RESPECTA Pillow RESPECTA
and SOLA
absolutely safe for allergy sufferers. They are specially designed to promote healthy sleep.

The inner layer of Ocean and Dream orthopedic mattresses is made of hypoallergenic material Hollofiber®, which is also recommended in the production of children’s products.

Many allergy sufferers report that when using pillows and mattresses made of polyurethane foam, allergy attacks become much less common .

Dust mites do not spread in artificial materials, so sleeping on a pillow and mattress made of polyurethane foam will always be calm and comfortable.

Do not forget about the beneficial orthopedic properties of these products. But read about it in our next article!

2. Pay attention to laundry detergents and powders

Now in stores you can find lines of hypoallergenic detergents designed specifically for sensitive skin and people with allergies. The main thing is to rinse your clothes well, especially bedding and things you sleep in.

3. Keep your home hygienic

Daily wet cleaning will greatly facilitate your life and get rid of pollen and dust that have arrived from the street. Control the level of humidity in the apartment, give up unnecessary things that collect dust – carpets and soft toys.

4. Say a firm no to pets in your bed

We all love our pets, but allergies are a compelling reason to think about raising a pet. Teach your furry friends not to jump on the bed – it’s not hygienic and can really hurt your restful sleep.