Indoor Allergies: Causes And How To Prevent Them

You've likely experienced allergies while outside, perhaps at the park or simply running errands. Some of us experience seasonal allergies, like in the spring when plants begin to bloom and pollen counts rise.

However, indoor allergies are also common and can be difficult to detect since many of us only associate allergies with outside. But indoor allergens can cause very similar symptoms, including runny nose, sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, congestion and coughing.

What Causes Indoor Allergies?

While we can look outside at the plant life in our areas and determine what's likely causing our allergies, it becomes less clear inside. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, here are the common causes of allergies inside:

• Dust
• Pets
• Bedding like pillows and mattresses
• Soft furniture
• Carpet
• Candles
• Incense or air fresheners
• Mold or mildew
• Cleaning supplies

There are a number of other things that can cause indoor allergies, not all of which are totally within your control. If you experience indoor allergy symptoms, it may be helpful to see if certain indoor activities seem to directly cause them or make them worse. This could be sitting on a particular couch or using air fresheners.

How Do You Prevent Indoor Allergies?

Depending on your unique living space, there are a number of ways you can prevent or treat your indoor allergies.

Here are some steps you can take:

Regularly dust and declutter surfaces: Controlling the amount of dust mites in your home starts with regularly dusting surfaces. Keeping surfaces decluttered also helps make it easy for you to dust those surfaces. This not only cleans dust but also helps keep it from ending up in soft surfaces like pillows on in the carpet.

For your pillows and mattresses, consider using allergen-resistant covers. You should also wash your bedding and pillows with hot water once a week.

Vacuum one to two times a week: Vacuuming with a high-quality vacuum contains allergens. Also, if you are experiencing allergies from cleaning products or while tidying your home, consider wearing a mask while cleaning.

Control moisture in your home: Be sure to check pipes for leaks as well as other sources that may be leaking water. Moisture fosters mold growth and dust mites.

Prevent pet dander: If you experience allergies caused by pet dander, keep your pets out of your bedroom. You should also regularly wash your pet's furniture and toys. Baths and regular brushings may reduce your symptoms, but you should avoid grooming them yourself. If you have to groom your pets, consider wearing a mask.

Keep your doors and windows closed: Keeping your windows or doors open allows outdoor allergens to enter your home where they can become attached to your carpets, furniture and bedding. If you keep your windows open to help cool your home, consider getting a fan instead or a portable air conditioning unit.

If you continue to experience allergies after taking necessary precautions, talk to your primary care provider about taking allergy medicine. These can help treat your symptoms in conjunction with the prevention strategies.