Jun 8, 2009 7:31 pm US/Eastern
Allergy Triggers Not Just Outdoors
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Spring and summer are the times of year when allergy sufferers may feel compelled to hid out indoors. But for thousands of sniffling and sneezing victims, staying at home would, in fact, may the problem worse.
Allergy triggers aren't just outdoors – they're lurking all over your home.
Recognizing the most common indoor allergy triggers can help keep symptoms at bay.
Looking room-by-room, potential problems are everywhere for allergy sufferers.
In the living room, couches, pillows, and stuffed toys can harbor dust mites and pet hair – even if you don't have pets.
"The idea is that it's carried on guests who come to the home and gets deposited," allergist Dr. David Nash says.
The best way to combat these triggers is to vacuum all furniture after having company, and to tumble toys and throws in the dryer for 15 minutes once a week. The hot, dry air kills the mites.
It's also a good idea to make sure to keep plants off the carpet and away from curtains, because any water spillage or moisture evaporation there could lead to accumulation of mold.
In the laundry room, mold can grow in damp, unwashed clothes, as well as clean ones left in the washer for more than a few hours.
In the bathroom, pick a bath mat that is easy to wash.
"Bath mats should be picked up every time they're used, and hung over an area where there's air circulating all around them on both sides, to dry off," allergist Dr. David Skoner says.
In the bedroom, as with the living room, dust mites can be an issue – they love pillows.
"What people are allergic to is actually not the mite, but their waste matter," Dr. Nash says.
Dust collects quickly on photographs and books. Getting shelves out of the bedroom altogether, and using allergy-proof pillow covers, can help.
Even hairless pets still pose an allergy threat for some.
"We've been telling people that if you have allergies, it might not be good to have a furry pet," Dr. Skoner says. "Well, many of them do go out and get fish tanks. I think fish tanks can certainly serve as a source of excess humidity and mold growth."
The symptoms of indoor allergies are no different than those from other allergies.
Dusting and vacuuming three times a week may help minimize the triggers – and be sure to wear a mask while doing it.
Medications and allergy shots are also used to treat the symptoms.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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