Why allergies can occur even at home
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If you are already approaching 30, but your nose has never rung after hugging a cat, this does not mean absolutely anything. Allergy symptoms can Can You Develop Allergies Later in Life? appear at any age - even in adults.
Heredity plays an important role here. If one of your parents had an allergy, you are more likely to have one. What Causes a Person to Develop Allergies? 30–50%. If both parents had allergies, this figure jumps to 60–80%. However, even in such a situation there is a chance to “outgrow” the disease: for those over 50, the symptoms sometimes disappear.
A sudden runny nose and watery eyes may be caused by Can You Develop Allergies Later in Life? close contact with a potential allergen. If since childhood you have been accustomed to strictly monitor cleanliness, but during self-isolation due to the backlog of work you forgot the last time you wiped off the dust, then you risk experiencing unpleasant symptoms. They can occur if the immune system was not in the best shape when encountering an allergen, for example during pregnancy or illness.
What allergens can be found in the apartment
Dust
It consists of Indoor Allergens from tiny food particles, pollen, fabric fibers and skin flakes - both yours and your pets. Often, dust mites are added to this set, which is already lethal for any allergy sufferer. These are tiny creatures that feed on particles of the epidermis and live where it is warm and humid. Bed linen, upholstered furniture and carpets are their favorite habitats. Allergies are caused by Dust Mite Allergies from mite excrement and particles of their decomposing remains mixed with dust.
Mold
The requirements for living conditions for mold are approximately the same as for mites: as long as it is humid and warm. She especially likes kitchens or bathrooms with poor ventilation and leaking pipes. Mold spores end up in the air, and if they are inhaled, the immune system can react too zealously - this is how Mold allergy develops.
Animals
Contrary to popular belief, the irritating factor in Indoor Allergy Triggers is not the hair of dogs and cats. Pet allergy is to blame for their urine, saliva and tiny skin particles that mix with dust and spread throughout the apartment. And no, there are no hypoallergenic breeds.
Insects
For example, cockroaches. Their feces and chitinous covering contain Cockroach Allergy protein, which can cause an allergic reaction. In some cases, Cockroach Allergy: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and More can even lead to asthma. If you needed an additional reason to keep order in the kitchen, here it is.
Pollen
Self-isolation is unlikely to help here: the apartment still needs to be ventilated from time to time, so allergens from the street can easily get into the room. And if you don’t use deliveries and go grocery shopping yourself, you risk bringing birch or alder pollen home on your clothes or hair.
Household chemicals
And at the same time cosmetics. Preservatives, antibacterial components and fragrances can Chemical Allergies: Shampoo, Cleaners, and More provoke allergies. However, it does not always occur The Truth About Adult-Onset Allergies after the first use: you can use the same cream for years, and then discover that some strange rashes have appeared on your skin. Cleaning gloves do not help everyone: if they are made of latex, they themselves can cause Contact dermatitis a negative reaction.
Sometimes excessive love for cleanliness can cause allergies. If during self-isolation you decide to devote your free time to cleaning, and after several hours in latex gloves your hands become red and itchy, these may be symptoms of an allergic reaction. Antihistamines will help out - for example, Suprastin. It begins to act within 15-30 minutes after administration and helps cope with the manifestations of contact dermatitis. The drug will also be useful during trips to nature after self-isolation. This is a universal allergy remedy for your home medicine cabinet: it can be used for reactions to pollen, insect bites, and even food and medications. "Suprastin" is suitable for adults and children from 3 years of age.
What to do if everything itches
Paint for walls and ceilings
The main requirement for paint, in addition to its safe composition: the ability to clean the painted surface. Walls coated with Little Greene paint can be safely washed using water.
Water-dispersed
Water-soluble paints do not emit hazardous substances and create a vapor-permeable film on the surface that is resistant to dirt and washing.
We really like Paint Library waterborne paint. The main thing to remember is that such paints require dry cleaning.
Acrylic
Another safe and inexpensive option. These paints have one drawback: low vapor permeability. This means that they can only be applied to fresh concrete or plaster after 3-4 weeks.
If you decide to cover your walls with acrylic paint, we recommend taking a closer look at Intelligent Eggshell. It is wear-resistant and suitable for any interior work. When it dries, a smooth semi-matte film is formed that is resistant to water. So it is suitable even for the bathroom and kitchen.
Hypoallergenic
This is textile wallpaper with antibacterial impregnation, which is absolutely safe for allergy sufferers. They are not cheap, and so far they are only produced abroad.
Popular manufacturers: Chilewich, SANGETSU, Erfurt Mav.
Textile
Paper
Symptoms to watch out for
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Allergies are unpredictable and can strike at any time of the year. In spring or summer, it’s easier to chalk up a sudden bout of sneezing to pollen, but dust mites and cockroaches don’t care whether it’s April or October.
Allergic reactions can manifest themselves in different ways, but there are symptoms. What Are the Symptoms of an Allergy? Allergies: Symptoms & causes that occur most often:
- The nose is clogged, or it is running like a stream for no obvious reason.
- The eyes are red, itchy and watery.
- A person constantly sneezes or is overcome by a cough.
- A tingling sensation appears in the throat.
- Shortness of breath is a concern.
- Redness occurs on the skin, accompanied by itching and peeling.
Sometimes allergies are difficult to distinguish Cold or allergy: Which is it? from ARVI, so it’s better to do without self-activity and not diagnose yourself on the Internet. If you suspect that viruses are not to blame for a persistent runny nose, consult a physician and take a blood test for total immunoglobulin E. Perhaps, with the result of this test, you will be sent to an allergist - you will need to undergo additional tests to determine the allergen.
Detergents
Household chemicals that are suitable for allergy sufferers do not contain surfactants or phosphates. The packaging must state that this product:
- refers to hypoallergenic;
- has no toxic ingredients;
- easy to wash;
- safe for the environment;
- does not contain aromatic fragrances.
Switching to safe cleaning products is unlikely to happen overnight. You will have to try different brands before finding the right one.
We recommend paying attention to the companies Ecover, Sodasan and Attitude. They have an EcoLogo certificate, which indicates compliance with European safety standards.
Russia has its own safety certificate - “Life Leaf”, the company BioMio has it.
How to cope with allergies
Keep it clean
Wipe off the dust with a damp cloth, wash the floor once or twice a week, or go over it with a vacuum cleaner, ideally with a HEPA filter. To avoid inhaling irritating particles, wear a mask while cleaning. It is better to avoid household chemicals with fragrances in favor of products without bright fragrances.
The optimal temperature in the apartment is from 20 to 22 °C, and the air humidity should not exceed Allergy‑proof your home 50%. If you are ventilating, hang a curtain of damp gauze on the window or balcony door to trap at least some of the pollen.
Keep pets out of the bedroom
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And if you live in a one-room apartment, then at least don’t let them jump on the bed. You need to wash your pet after every walk - a dog or cat's fur can bring in Control Indoor Allergens to Improve Indoor Air Quality pollen from the street.
Cleaning the litter tray should be left to family members without allergies, but if this is not possible, wear a mask, and when finished, wash your hands thoroughly. By the way, you should wash your hands every time you cuddle a cat or scratch a dog.
Change bed linen promptly
Allergy‑proof your home needs to do this at least once a week, and wash sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases at 60°C. Dry your laundry in the room, not on the open balcony, otherwise it will collect pollen. And don’t forget about decorative pillows and soft toys - they also need to be washed regularly.
Replace feather pillows and wool duvets with synthetic-fill options. And to make life as difficult as possible for ticks, you can buy a protective mattress cover.
Get rid of clutter
The fewer dust collectors there are in the house, the lower the risk of allergies. It’s better to get rid of carpets right away - even a vacuum cleaner is not always able to collect all the dust from long piles, and if you clean the carpet with a damp sponge, there will be plenty of room for mold. Remove books and decor such as figurines and boxes from open shelves into a closet. Curtains and bedspreads are great at collecting dust, so wash or vacuum them regularly.
Tidy up your bathroom
Make sure everything is ok with ventilation. If your bathroom is always damp, leave the door open after you shower. When cleaning, do not forget to clean the seams between the tiles, and also regularly wash the rugs and shower curtain. After washing dry, wipe the rubber seal on the washing machine door. Finally, don't put off fixing a leaking faucet. So the mold will not have time to grow, and the cockroaches will have nothing to drink.
Don't make a mess in the kitchen
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Immediately throw any moldy food in the refrigerator into the trash bin. Wipe the inside of the refrigerator itself once a week—the walls, the shelves, and the seals. Remove crumbs from the table and sweep the floor, otherwise the neighbor's cockroaches will come running for a treat. It is better not to store flour, pasta and cereals in open packages - pour them into tightly closed containers. Take out the trash regularly and use a bucket with a lid to prevent insects from feeding on it.
Leave the house less often when everything around you is blooming
After all, no one has canceled the self-isolation regime yet. The less you wander outside, the lower your risk of inhaling pollen. Just in case, keep a calendar of flowering plants that cause allergies on hand. For example, birch trees bloom in April, and Gismeteo even has a daily forecast of the concentration of its pollen in the air.
Experienced allergy sufferers know that during the flowering period or with year-round allergies, they cannot do without modern means that allow them to remain active throughout the day. "Suprastinex" is an innovative drug that can be taken for a long time, up to 6 months. In therapeutic doses, the drug practically does not cause drowsiness and allows you to maintain your usual lifestyle even at the height of the allergy season. Suprastinex in tablets is suitable for adults - just one dose per day is enough, and for children from 2 to 6 years old it is better to use the drug in drops. How to overcome allergies
There are contraindications. Before use, you should consult a specialist.
Flooring
Wooden
Good choice for those with allergies:
- does not electrify, which means it does not attract dust;
- easy to wipe and vacuum;
- no harmful emissions.
If you decide to varnish your floors, choose a water-soluble one. It is odorless and abrasion resistant.
Cork
We have already recommended these floors in the article “Kitchen Floor Guide: 8 Coverings, Their Pros and Cons.” Cork is made from the bark of the cork oak tree. Its advantages:
- environmentally friendly;
- safe for people with allergies;
- very durable.
Tile
The tiles are suitable for the corridor, bathroom and kitchen. The main advantage: it is the easiest to clean. In addition, it is quite durable (30-40 years) and cheaper than wood and cork floors.
Plants
Just because you have allergies doesn't mean you can't have a little green friend in a potty.
Indoor plants that do not cause allergies:
- dracaena, humidifies the air;
- aloe, good for asthmatics;
- ivy, protects against fungi and bacteria;
- Chlorophytum crested, absorbs toxins from the air;
- bay laurel, leaves can be dried and used as a seasoning for dumplings.
