(Don't) Take A Deep Breath: 3 Household Allergens That Could Be Wreaking Havoc With Your Breathing

Health & Medical Blog

Seasonal allergies can be a huge bother during the warm months, but taking shelter in your home isn't necessarily going to keep your breathing from becoming labored. Household allergens tend to occur at a rate of 2-5 times higher than outdoor allergens, meaning that your home could actually be working against you.

But how do you know what items in your house could be impairing your ability to breathe? If you're wondering what household allergens could be wreaking havoc with your breathing, then here's what you need to know.

Dust Mites

Dust mites trigger both allergies and asthma, and as such are probably the most common source of allergy-related labored breathing in the United States. These microscopic creatures feed off of the skin you shed from day to day and thrive in warm and humid climates like your home, and can live year-round as long as temperatures don't get too extreme.

In order to purge your home of this nasty allergen, protect your mattress with a dust mite-proof cover and make sure that you wash your bedding often in hot water. You may also want to dust and vacuum often, paying special attention to cloth furniture and upholstery.

Mold

Mold allergies are another type of common household allergens, though they're most common from about the middle of summer through the end of fall. Mold spores floating in the air in your home can cause sneezing, runny noses, and can even get into your lungs and worsen any asthmatic tendencies you might have.

In order to help minimize your mold allergy and get your breathing back to normal, you should lower the humidity in your home below 35% if possible, and ensure that you air out bathrooms and laundry rooms after use to avoid excess wetness causing molds to grow.

Dander

Your four-legged friends are adorable and cuddly, but that soft fur that makes them so much fun to pet could also be causing problems with your breathing. Pet dander is an extremely common allergen. It's estimated that 90% of households in the United States have a detectable level of cat or dog allergens, which makes it incredibly likely that your home has some sort of dander floating around.

In order to clean that dander up, it's helpful to install air purifiers (HEPA approved) in the rooms in your home that are used the most, vacuum frequently, and bathe your pets with anti-dander shampoo. For more information, contact establishments like The Regional Allergy Asthma & Immunology Center, PC.

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27 February 2018

Seniors Deserve the Best

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