Getting irritated with dust? It is the main cause of year-round allergies.
Most of you are suffering with dust allergies. It is present everywhere you live.
Even though they are in microscopic size, they can be a significant cause of your allergic reactions such as dust allergies.
60 million Americans are suffering from allergies, among which dust allergies are the main.
Dust is a collection of fragments from many sources including bacteria, cockroach parts, fabric fibers, food particles, human skin scales, human and animal dander, mold spores, and organic and synthetic materials. All these substances can set off allergic symptoms.
Your house dust alone is not the main cause of allergies, but the most serious offenders are the “house dust mitesâ€. The particles and fecal wastes are the main cause of year-round allergies.
Dust mites live in bedding, carpets, stuffed furniture, old clothing and stuffed toys. They nourish on our skin scales. They grow rapidly in humid environments. When humidity is below 50 percent they won’t survive.
Symptoms of dust allergies:
If you are suffering with dust allergies, you may exhibit the signs and symptoms like:
- Asthma
- Blocked nose
- Conjunctivitis
- Coughing
- Facial pressure and pain
- Hay fever or allergic rhinitis
- Irritability
- Itchy and watery eyes
- Itchy nose and roof of mouth or throat
- Postnatal drip
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Swollen and blue colored skin under your eyes
If you have asthma then you may experience other symptoms due to dust allergies. They include lung congestion, shortness of breathe and wheezing. You may be especially experience asthma attacks at night, while sleeping in bed and infected with dust.
The symptoms of dust allergies can range from mild to severe. Mild dust allergies symptoms may result in runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing. The severe symptoms of dust allergies are chronic, for instance, congestion, facial pressure, persistent wheezing and sneezing.
How dust allergies affect your body?
If you are sensitive to dust mites, your body can easily reacts when you inhale this residue. Your immune system identifies the inhaled dust mite residue as an aggressor hence the production of antibody called immunoglobulin.
The next time whenever you exposed to dust particles, your immune system initiate an allergic reaction. The antibodies produce chemical called histamine, which causes swelling of the mucous membrane in your lungs, nose, sinuses, and eyes hence the above mentioned symptoms will start to appear.
How to prevent dust allergies?
- Keep the indoor moisture as low as possible. Keep the humidity level between 30-40 percent.
- Avoid the use of humidifiers and vaporizers. They are the main cause to build the dust particles.
- Wash your blankets and pillow covers once in a week. Avoid the use of feather pillows, padded comforters, and wool blankets.
- It is better to use cotton, zippered, dust proof, hypoallergenic covers to encase pillows, mattresses, and box springs. This prevents the food supply for dust mites.
- If possible you can use and upstairs bedroom.
- Install Hepa air filter in the central air or heating system. You can use a portable air filter to remove dust, smoke and pollen from the air.
Medication for dust allergies:
When you can not control the reaction to dust allergies, you can consult your doctor [Dust control].
The doctor may suggest some medications like:
- Longer acting antihistamines – Include clarinex, zyrtec, etc to reduce inflammation
- Short acting antihistamines – Include Benadryl, Claritin, etc to reduce hay fever
- Nasal corticosteroid sprays – Include flonase, nasonex, etc to reduce inflammation
- Decongestants – Include Sudafed, chlor-trimeton, etc to reduce runny nose, coughing, etc.
Before trying any of these medications for the symptoms of dust allergies you must visit your doctor. He may prescribe the medication which works for your condition.
