All of us are exposed
to different potential allergies at different times of the day. For example,
if you go out to work and show allergy symptoms during the working day
then something in your work environment may be triggering your allergy.
If your symptoms are worse at bedtime, then it could be house dust mites
in and around your bedding that are the triggers.
Common
allergy causing triggers House dust mites
Pollen
Pets
Mould spores Other factors and irritants
There are other factors which should also be considered
as possible causes of your allergy symptoms such as an itchy, runny nose, sneezing,
watery eyes etc. Air pollution: nitrogen dioxide, sulphur
dioxide and other chemicals are not triggers themselves but can make the effects
of allergies worse. Air conditioned atmospheres that suck
chemicals, dust and pollution from outside, can contribute to hayfever symptoms.
Even good air conditioning filters will only really reduce the amount of pollen
in the air and not remove it completely. Other triggers such as smoke, perfume
and changes in humidity can all increase nasal sensitivity. Hayfever
season Hayfever seasons vary from year to year but the
spring and summer months are when people most commonly suffer from allergies to
the different types of pollen, (weed/grass) and even mould spores. Coping
with the hayfever season It is advisable to try
to keep doors and windows shut as this helps prevent the flow of pollen. It is
also a good idea to have a shower, wash your hair and change your clothes after
being outside as pollen will remain on your clothes and hair. Try
to avoid cutting the grass, as grass pollen can trigger hayfever. Mould
spores Many allergy sufferers are allergic to mould spores
as well as pollen without realising there’s a difference between the two.
Although staying indoors can often mean you avoid pollen to a certain extent,
it’s not so simple with mould spores. Mould can grow anywhere that has the
right conditions indoors, such as bathrooms. You can find moulds outside on compost
heaps, in soil, rotting wood and grass cuttings. Coping
with mould spores If a member of your family suffers from
an allergy to mould spores, there are some simple things you can do to help them
to control their symptoms and find relief. For example, try to keep damp areas
such as bathrooms well-ventilated and clean using anti-mould cleaning products.
A bit of hard work for a few minutes can give them a degree of relief for quite
some time. House dust mites It’s
not dust that triggers the problem. In fact, it is a tiny creature called the
"house dust mite", also known as Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.
House dust mites are almost always present in house dust, even in the most clean
and tidy homes. In a way, they serve a useful purpose in disposing of skin debris
in house dust. Its first name 'Dermatophagoides' is simply Latin for
'skin eating'. Despite its rather fierce appearance under
a microscope, the house dust mite does not bite: it eats the skin flakes that
make up a large percentage of house dust. The mite is so small that it is impossible
to see with the naked eye. The house dust mite is 80% water
and needs a humid environment in which to thrive. The house dust mite or, more
precisely, its waste products or droppings, are the most common trigger of airborne
allergy.
Coping with house dust mites
One tip that can reduce house dust mites in soft toys is to freeze them overnight.
The freezing process will kill the mites. Make sure you wash the items afterwards
to remove the remains of any of the mites as they, too, can trigger a reaction.
House dust mites thrive in moist or damp
conditions so try and keep your home nice and dry – perhaps by using a dehumidifier.
Another approach is to deprive the mites of food and shelter.
House dust mites live by eating house dust, so a good clean will take away a lot
of their food.
Pets
Pets are also a common trigger for people's allergies. Cats,
in particular, cause allergies but dogs and rabbits too can trigger the itching
and sneezing of airborne allergy.
For most people, it is not
the fur itself that causes the allergy problem. Dander, the name given to
the mixture of small particles of fur, skin scales (like dandruff) and saliva,
is the actual cause. In cats, for example, a particular protein found in
cats’ saliva causes an allergic
reaction in many sufferers of airborne allergy.
Because cats groom themselves so thoroughly, the saliva finds it way onto
carpets, furniture and other surfaces.
Coping with pets (dander)
- Keeping pets out of the bedroom helps reduce exposure.
- Regular bathing of the animal can reduce the allergic
problem by removing the saliva and dander that are the actual triggers.
For
most people, the only way to reduce this problem is, sadly, to find a new home
for the animal. Air pollution
Whether
your family live in a tree-lined street, a block of flats or a beautiful countryside
setting, air pollution is something that we all come into contact with at
sometime or another. Air pollution can cause people to be more sensitive to
allergens and is an unfortunate side effect of modern living. Although some
of the time we are not aware of them, high concentrations of chemicals such
as nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and diesel particles pollute our air
every day. These pollutants can irritate the eyes, nose and airways in all
of us; but those that already suffer from allergies caused by pollens and
spores may suffer more. One of the later phases of the body’s allergic
response is to make the nasal passages more sensitive to irritants; this is
known as “nasal hyper-responsiveness”.
If your child is particularly suffering with allergies one day or seems to become
extra sensitive over a period of time, this may be the reason. Coping
with pollution Cigarette smoke, perfume, aerosol sprays,
insecticides as well as industrial pollution can all act as “irritant triggers”
– which can worsen the effect of symptoms of an allergic reaction. Avoid
smoky rooms and, of course, if you smoke yourself, the best way to help those
in your family who suffer from allergies to find relief is to give up!
Other
irritants Those that have developed this extra sensitivity
(nasal hyper-responsiveness) may find that things such as smoke, perfumes, strong
smells or changes in temperature and humidity can trigger symptoms. It can be
hard to avoid all of these things, but finding the right information on precisely
what it is that affects you will make that easier. Coping
with irritants Avoid using strong perfumes and ask close
friends and family to do the same - especially at times of the year when the sufferers
are most likely to be showing symptoms. Also try to avoid
sudden temperature changes; this can increase your sensitivity to allergy triggers,
too.
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