More than 100 million people in the U.S. experience allergies each year. Allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to a benign foreign substance (allergen) it thinks is dangerous by releasing histamine. The release of histamine causes the common allergic reaction symptoms you may experience, including but not limited to:
- Hives
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Watery or red eyes
- Itchy nose, eyes and throat
- Trouble breathing
- Runny nose and congestion
Common allergens include pollen, pet dander, dust mites, mold and certain foods. If you experience a reaction to one or more of these common allergens, you likely know how to avoid them. For instance, if you’re allergic to pollen, you may avoid strolling through Palmetto Park when the pollen count is high. But there are a couple of surprising allergy triggers you may not have thought of before. Let’s examine a few of them below.
Making the Bed
Dust mites love a cozy bed as much as you do. Throughout the night, they settle into the fabric of your sheets, pillows and comforter and may be released when you make your bed, resulting in some unexpected sneezing.
A dehumidifier might be the answer to reducing the amount of dust mites in your bed. Dust mites do not drink water like other bugs but rather absorb it from the air, making them partial to humid environments such as your bed at night. With a dehumidifier, you can fight off dust mites and South Carolina humidity in one fell swoop.
Playing With Your Pets
Avoiding dogs and cats when you have a pet dander allergy is wise, but pet dander may not be the only allergen they carry. If you take an allergy skin prick test and find out that you aren’t allergic to pet dander, but your dog still makes you sneeze, they are likely carrying other allergens. Pets can carry surprising amounts of dust mites and pollen into the home. Whether they’re rolling around in the backyard or playing host to dust mites, you might find that you’re allergic to one or more of the allergens they carry.
You can help mitigate your pets’ allergens by keeping them off the couch and out of the bedroom and bathing them regularly to reduce dander and pollen.
Wet Leaves
Wet leaves can play host to a large amount of mold. Of the people with allergies, approximately 1 in 5 people are allergic to mold. It can be hard to prevent leaves from piling up, but regularly raking your leaves and cleaning your gutter can help prevent them from accumulating and fostering moldy environments.
Contact Palmetto ENT & Allergy today to speak to one of our specialists for more information on managing allergies.