Controlling indoor allergens

Introduction

Allergic rhinitis results in symptoms of sneezing, congestion, and a runny nose. However, you can control these symptoms with medicine and by avoiding the things that cause them (allergens). If you are allergic to indoor allergens, such as dust mites, animal dander, and mold, you can take some simple steps to get them out of your house.

By taking these precautions, you may have fewer symptoms or less severe symptoms.

What do I do first?
Why should I control allergens in my home?
How can I control allergens in my home?
Where to go from here

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What do I do first?

To avoid allergens in your home, you need to try to identify what you are allergic to. Work with your doctor to find this out. With this knowledge, you can cut back on the allergens in your home. For example, you may be allergic to your pet. You can then decide what steps to take, such as keeping your pet outside or limiting your pet to certain areas of your home.

Many of these steps are simple and are easy to do. Others may mean changes to your home and furnishings—such as removing carpeting or adding an air-conditioning system—that can be costly or difficult to do. If you live in a rented apartment or house, you may not be able to make some changes. You will need to decide which ones you can do. Try to use as many of them as you can.

Test Your Knowledge

1. Many steps for controlling allergens in your home are simple and easy to do.
1. True
   

   The answer is correct

   Many of the steps for controlling allergens in your home are simple and easy to do, and can be done in any home.

   
2. False
   

   The answer is incorrect

   Many of the steps for controlling allergens in your home are simple and easy to do, and can be done in any home.

   

Continue to Why should I control allergens in my home?
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Why should I control allergens in my home?

By avoiding or reducing your contact with indoor allergens, you may be able to:

• Reduce your allergy symptoms and feel much better.
• Manage your allergy symptoms without medicine or with fewer medicines.
• Reduce your risk of developing complications of long-term (chronic) allergic rhinitis, such as sinusitis.

Test Your Knowledge

1. It is useful to try to control allergens in your home because:
1. Reducing the allergens may help reduce your allergy symptoms.
   

   The answer is correct

   Reducing allergens can help reduce your allergy symptoms. This may make it easier for you to manage your allergy symptoms without medicine or with fewer medicines.

   
2. You may be able to take fewer allergy medicines.
   

   The answer is correct

   Reducing allergens can help reduce your allergy symptoms. This may make it easier for you to manage your allergy symptoms without medicine or with fewer medicines.

   

Continue to How can I control allergens in my home?
Return to Controlling indoor allergens

How can I control allergens in my home?

To reduce allergens inside your home, you can:

• Remove items where allergens build up, such as stuffed animals or rugs.
• Use regular cleaning and housekeeping to prevent allergens from building up.

Measures to control allergens throughout your home include:

• Controlling dust and dust mites, such as dusting regularly and washing bed linens in hot water. Dust contains most of the allergens in your home.
• Controlling animal dander and other pet allergens, which includes keeping pets only in certain areas of your home.
• Controlling molds, which includes cleaning bathtubs and showers monthly.

Because adults spend one-third of their time and children spend half of their time in their bedrooms, it is important that you take steps to prevent allergens in this room.

Other things you can do

Polluted air does not cause allergies, but it can irritate the nose and lungs. This may make it more likely that you will have symptoms.

• Avoid tobacco smoke, smoke from wood-burning stoves, and fumes from kerosene heaters.
• If you have a wood-burning stove, try to use one that is airtight and does not leak smoke into your home.

Test Your Knowledge

1. Most of the allergens in your home are found in dust.
1. True
   

   The answer is correct

   Most of the allergens in your home are found in dust. Dust builds up on furniture, floors and carpeting, on beds and other soft furniture, and on clothing.

   
2. False
   

   The answer is incorrect

   Most of the allergens in your home are found in dust. Dust builds up on furniture, floors and carpeting, on beds and other soft furniture, and on clothing.

   
2. You should pay special attention to controlling allergens in:
1. The bedroom.
   

   The answer is correct

   Because you generally spend so much time in your bedroom, you should take special care in controlling allergens in this room.

   
2. The bathroom.
   

   The answer is incorrect

   Although controlling mold in the bathroom is important, you should pay more attention to controlling allergens in your bedroom. Most people spend a lot of time in the bedroom.

   

Continue to Where to go from here
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Where to go from here

Talk with your doctor

If you have questions about this information, take a printout with you when you visit your doctor. You may want to mark areas or make notes where you have questions. Your doctor may have more ideas on how you can control allergens in your home.

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