Indoor Allergens
Your house may also be home to a variety of animal and
plant life, most of which can become a source for
allergens, the triggers of allergic reactions. Pollens are the main cause of
seasonal allergic rhinitis. However, if your nasal
stuffiness, sneezing, watery eyes, and constant postnasal
drip bother you year round, then you most likely have non-
seasonal hay fever or perennial allergic rhinitis. This
condition is
typically caused by indoor allergens such as dust mites,
cockroach parts, mold, and animal dander.
Understanding the nature and location of indoor sources
of allergy is fundamental. The key to managing allergies
that are caused by indoor allergens involves reducing your
level of exposure to them or avoiding them, if possible.
What actually is house dust?
House dust is a mixture of components that can cause
allergies. House dust is concocted of just about anything
you can think of, including dried food particles, mold
spores, pollen, fabric fibers, animal danders, and insect
parts, especially those of dust mites and cockroaches. As
is the case with other allergens, these particles contain
proteins that are small enough to become airborne and
inhaled. The main culprits in house dust that cause allergy
symptoms are dust mite and cockroach particles.
What are dust mites?
Dust mites, which were discovered in 1964, are
microscopic arachnids (think tiny spiders). They are about
one third of a millimeter in length and are not visible to
the naked eye. They have eight legs, are blind, and
naturally live indoors. Their presence does not indicate
that the house is dirty. This is because usual cleaning
procedures, such as vacuuming and "dusting," do not
eliminate them. Dust mites have "sticky" pads at the ends
of their legs. These pads help them firmly attach to
fibers, which allows them to live deep within carpeting,
upholstery, and mattresses. Most of the mites found in
houses are from the Dermatophagoides family with
pteronyssinus and farinae being the most common species.
(Dermatophagoides comes from Latin and means skin eating.
Pteronyssinus comes from Latin and means feather loving.
Farinae is Latin for flour.) Fortunately, dust mites do not
bite, spread disease, or actually live on us.
What do dust mites consider heaven?
To better protect ourselves from this most vexing
problem, we need to understand what the dust mite needs to
thrive. After identifying what dust mites need and love,
it will be easy to recognize how we comfort-loving humans
often "aid and abet" the lifestyle of the dreadful little
mite; and that our allergists are not really crazy zealots
for trying to remove these comforts from our lives!
Dust mites thrive in warm, humid places. The ideal
temperature for dust mites ranges from 65 to 80 degrees F.
Does this sound a lot like your ideal bedroom temperature?
Since dust mites have no means of drinking, they are
totally dependent on the humidity surrounding them for
water. They live best at a relative humidity above 55%;
so, watch it with the humidifier and carpet steamer!
However, also be aware that monitoring the humidity really
isn't sufficient to control dust mites. As the humidity
falls, dust mites will retreat from the surface. However,
even in very dry conditions, it can take quite a few months
to eliminate the dust mite population. Additionally, there
is the issue of food supply. Face it, they love us, our
secretions, and the skin cells we shed. (The average human
sheds up to 1.5 grams of skin particles per day. A gram is
about the weight of a paperclip.) Plus, they fancy our
feather pillows and stuffed animals that collect the stuff
they feast on. The most favorable conditions for dust mite
growth are found in the bedroom. Their favorite breeding
grounds are mattresses, pillows, and box springs, as well
as blankets, curtains, carpeting, and other fabric items in
the room. Perfect climatic conditions for dust mites occur
in the Mid and Southern Atlantic coast, Gulf coast, Central
Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and British Columbia. Dust
mites are rarely found in dry climates where the elevation
is over 5,000 feet above sea level.
Next: How do dust mites make you allergic? »
 |
 |
From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com  |
|
|
- ELISA Tests - Source:MedicineNet
- Eczema - Get information about eczema causes, skin symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. Types include dyshidrotic, atopic dermatitis, nummular, varicose and seborrheic eczema. Source:MedicineNet
- Asthma - Get the facts on asthma symptoms, signs, diagnosis, causes and triggers of asthma attacks, treatment information, medication, inhalers, and management. Asthma in children and exercise-induced asthma are types of asthma. Source:MedicineNet
- Read 33 more Indoor Allergens related articles ...
|
| |
|
Specialty RSS
